Hematological and plasma biochemistry in Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton 1822)

Hematological and plasma chemistry indices are important parameters for the evaluation of fish physiological status. In this study, we determined the results of selected hematological and plasma biochemical profiles in Cirrhinus mrigala captured from the wild in a tropical climate of India. Blood was analyzed using standard techniques, and differences in hematological parameters including hemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of fish were compared according to sex and different seasons. Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between sexes, and the results indicated that blood parameters levels between the sexes in summer were significantly different than that measure in other seasons except MCH and MCHC value. The number of total leukocyte levels was found to be higher in female fish especially in reproductive seasons (summer), but the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and MCV values were high in male fish in an annual period. However, there was no difference in MCH and MCHC values between the sexes and seasons throughout the study period. These may be related to season of sampling and changing physiological cycles during these months. Differences were noted in plasma lipid, cholesterol, and glucose level in the summer season, but the higher amount of plasma protein was found in spring and winter in male and female fish, respectively. In conclusion, monitoring fish hematological and biochemical parameters essentially can be a way to evaluate the physiological and health status of their populations, which may be a useful indicator of the environmental status.