Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract:
This study was a comparative evaluation of the effects of adding red palm oil or a conventional anti-stress to water for transporting African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). One hundred and eighty apparently healthy matured Dutch strain of African catfish (also known as Dutch Clarias) of both sexes weighing 300 – 800 g were used for the study. They were randomly assigned into four treatments at a stocking rate of 2kg/L, as follows: Treatment 1 (T1) – no anti-stress agent added; Treatment 2 (T2) - Aqua-anti-stress^® (conventional anti-stress) added at a dose of 1g/L; Treatment 3 (T3) – Red palm oil added at a dose of 1.5 ml/L; and Treatment 4 (T4) – Red palm oil added at a dose of 2.5 ml/L. These substances were added to water used to transport the fish for an 8-hour journey. Blood samples were collected from 15 fishes in each treatment group before transportation commenced, immediately after the 8-hour journey, and three days after the journey. Results showed that here were no significant (p > 0.05) variations between the treatment groups in their haematology before transportation commenced and immediately after the 8-hour journey. However, three days after the journey, the packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and erythrocyte counts of the T4 group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of T3 group. The platelet counts of T4 group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of all other groups. Monocyte counts of T1 group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of all other groups. Percentage of fishes with physical injuries during transportation was lowest in the T4 group, followed by T2 group, then T3 and T1. It was concluded that addition of red palm oil at the levels used in this study minimized physical injury during transport of the African catfish, and that 1.5ml/L dose compared effectively with the conventional anti-stress on its effect on haematology.

Keywords: African catfish; Anti-stress; Transportation stress; Conventional anti-stress, Red Palm oil, Haematology.

How to cite this article:
Kolndadacha OD, Buba E and Omeji S (2023). Comparison of the haematology and injury profile of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) transported in water treated with red palm oil or conventional anti-stress. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 13(1): 142 – 150.

*Correspondence: E-mail: kolnda@yahoo.com; kolndadacha.oscar@uam.edu.ng Phone: +2347068267092

Comparison of the haematology and injury profile of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) transported in water treated with red palm oil or conventional anti-stress

Oscar D. Kolndadacha* ¹, Elizabeth Buba ¹ and Samuel Omeji ^2
1 Department of Animal Health and Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. ² Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.