Comparative assessment of haematological profile in hatchery and riverine populations of Channa marulius

Present study was conducted to assess the haematological profile of Channa marulius from hatchery and riverine populations. Blood samples were collected by caudal vein puncture. Significantly higher values (p <= 0.05) were recorded for various blood indices in hatchery populations as compared to those of riverine sources. Observed values of haematological parameters in hatchery populations were: Erythrocytes 4.90x10(6) cells mu L-1, eosinophils 4.06 %, monocytes 5.53 %, haematocrit count 28.86 %, haemoglobin content 5.385 gdL(-1), platelet distribution width 6.91 fL, red blood cell distribution width 23.83 fL, Procalcitonin 2.37 mu L, mean corpuscular volume 7.87 fL and large platelet concentration ratio 14.64 %. In riverine populations, significantly higher values (p < 0.05) for leucocytes count 5625x10(3) mu L-1, mean cell haemoglobin 32.75 pg, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 43.66 gdL(-1) and mean cell volume 171.90 fL were observed as compared to those of hatchery populations. Conversely, non -significant (p >= 0.05) differences were observed with elevated values for neutrophils (14.042 %) in riverine fish populations as compared hatchery samples (13.896 %). Lymphocytes and platelets counts were 17.344 % and 33.742x10(3) mu L-1, respectively in hatchery populations whereas in riverine populations these were 13.764 % and 33.896x10(3) mu L-1, respectively. Physico-chemical parameters of sample water were observed to be in safe range throughout the study period. The observed variation in haematological profile between both groups is due to different inhabiting conditions that exert direct impacts on fish haematology.