Haematological characterization and response to sub-lethal hypoxia in a neotropical fish, Corydoras paleatus (Pisces, Callichthyidae)

CAZENAVE, J.; WUNDERLIN, D.; HUED, A. C.; BISTONI, M. A.

HYDROBIOLOGIA

SPRINGER

Año: 2005 vol. 537 p. 25 - 33

0018-8158

We report normal ranges of haematological indices in healthy Corydoras paleatus from an unpolluted area. Haematological parameters studied include: erythrocyte counts (Er), haematocrit (Ht), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Normal red blood parameters did not change according to maturation stages, sex or seasons. Then, we compared them with those coming from fish captured in a polluted site. Fish exposed to pollution presented significantly higher values of Er, Ht, Hb, MCH and MCHC than those captured in an unpolluted area. Discriminant analysis showed that Hb is a key parameter to point out differences between populations exposed to different environmental conditions. We suggest that normal haematological values of C. paleatus, registered during this study, could be used as biomarkers in future works evaluating the incidence of pollution on fish as well as pointing out changes in the water quality.