HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF NILE TILAPIA: EFFECT OF DIET AND COLD STRESS

Abstract

Hematological parameters of Nile tilapia fed diets supplemented with increasing levels of autolised yeast and zinc, before and after cold stress, were analyzed. The diets were formulated to contain 32.0% DP and 3,240 kcal/kg DE with increasing levels of autolised yeast (%) and zinc (mg/kg), as: 0.0:0.0; 0.0:79.5; 2.0:0.0; 0.795:79.5; 2.0:200; 4.0:400; 6.0:600; 12.0:1.200; 14.0:1400 . In phase I, 135 fingerlings were distributed into 27 50l-aquaria and fed ad libitum four times a day during 128 days (26ºC). After that, phase II began and nine fish from each treatment were transferred to 27 40l-aquaria (three/aquarium) and submitted to cold temperature (13.0ºC) during seven days. Before and after cold stress, the following parameters were evaluated: erythrocytes number, hematocrit, hemoglobin, corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular volume, total plasmatic protein, total leucocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes percentage. The number of erythrocytes was significantly influenced by the addition of autolised yeast and zinc to the diets. After cold stress, fish fed diets supplemented with 0.795:79.50 (Lev:Zn) and 14:1400 (Lev:Zn) presented impaired erythrocyte synthesis. Absence of test nutrients determined significant decrease in hematocrit, total leukocyte and total plasmatic protein. Cold stress determines leukopenia, lymphopenia, neutrophylia and monopenia.

KEYWORDS: Healthy, hematology, minerals, Oreochromis niloticus, pro-nutrient, stress.