Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of sex on hematology, morphology and blood cell characteristics of Schizothorax niger

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Study of hematological parameters, blood cell morphology and its characteristics are considered as essential tools to evaluate the health status of fish species. Among snow trout species, Schizothorax niger contribute a significant proportion to the overall fish production in the region, thus considered as an important food fish species. However, the population of this fish species is declining day by day from the natural habitats due to one or another reason. For understanding the health status of the fish an attempt has been made to establish sex wise base line data on hematological parameters, blood cell morphology and its characteristics. Ninety four healthy specimens of S. niger were randomly selected for this study; 48 adult males with an average body length 32.23 ± 1.79 cm; body weight of 290.0 ± 1.79 g, while 46 adult females with average body length 31.8 ± 0.10 cm and body weight 289.0 ± 0.34 g. The hemoglobin and packed cell volume were determined by using cyanmethemoglobin and microhaematocrit method respectively, while total red blood cell and total white blood cell counts were obtained by Neubauer hemocytometer. The blood cell morphological structures and different cell count were studied by using Wright-Giemsa stained blood smears. Erythrocytes, leucocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes), thrombocytes were distinguished and characterized under light microscopy. The results showed that Hb concentration, total RBC count, Hct value and neutrophils in males were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than females, while significantly (P < 0.05) less number of total WBC count and lymphocytes were noted in male fish than female. However, no significant (P > 0.05) differences were observed in other hematological parameters and blood cell morphology between male and female S. niger. Hence the data generated in the present study would be useful in monitoring health status of fish.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acar U, Turker A, Bulut M, Yıldırım O, Yılmaz S, Sabri Kesbiç O (2013) The effect of dietary soybean meal on growth, nutrient utilization, body composition and some serum biochemistry variables of two banded seabream, Diplodus vulgaris (Geoffroy saint-Hilaire, 1817). Iranian J Fish Sci 2:749–758

    Google Scholar 

  • Acharya G, Mohanty PK (2018) Effect of sex on haemocytobiochemical profiling of silver tiger fish (Datnioides polota Hamilton, 1822). Comp Clin Pathol 27:1335–1342

  • Adebayo OT, Fagbenro OA, Ajayi CB, Popoola OM (2007) Normal hematological profile of Parachanna obscura as diagnostic tool in aquaculture. Int J Zool Res 3:193–199

  • Ahmed I, Reshi QM, Fazio F (2020) The influence of the endogenous and exogenous factors on hematological parameters in different fish species: a review. Aquacult Int 28:869–899

  • Ahmed I, Sheikh ZA (2020) Comparative study of hematological parameters of snow trout Schizopygeu plagiostomus and Schizopyge uniger inhabiting two different habitats. Eur Zool J 87:12–19

  • Ahmed I, Sheikh ZA, Wani GB, Shah BA (2019) Sex variation in hematological and serum biochemical parameters of cultured Chinese silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. Comp Clin Pathol 28:1761–1767

  • Ahmed I, Sheikh ZA (2019) Hematological and serum biochemical parameters of five freshwater snow trout fish species from river Jhelum of Kashmir Himalaya, India. Comp Clin Pathol 28:771–782

  • Ahmed I, Sheikh ZA (2017) Study on the seasonal variation in the chemical composition, hematological profile, gonado-somatic index and hepato-somatic index of snow trout, Schizothorax niger from the freshwater Dal Lake, Kashmir. Am J Food Technol 12:1–13

  • Bahmani M, Kazemi R, Donskaya P (2001) A comparative studyof some haematological features in young reared sturgeons (Acipenser persicus and Huso huso). Fish Physiol Biochem 24:135–140

  • Ballarin L, Dall’Oro M, Bertotto D, Libertini A, Francescon A, Barbaro A (2004) Hematological parameters in Umbrina cirrosa (Teleostei, Sciaenidae): a comparison between diploid and triploid specimens. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integ Physiol 138:45–51

  • Banerjee SK, Misra KK, Banerjee S, Ray-Chaudhuri SP (1988) Chromosome numbers, genome sizes, cell volumes and evolution of snake-head fish (family Channidae). J Fish Biol 33:781–789

  • Barnett RR, Akindele T, Orte C, Shephard KL (1996) Eosinophilic granulocytes in the epidermis of Oreochromis mossambicus gill filaments studied in situ. J Fish Biol 49:148–156

  • Beyea MM, Benfey TJ, Kieffer JD (2005) Haematology and stress physiology of juvenile diploid and triploid shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum). Fish Physiol Biochem 31:303–313

  • Blaxhall PC, Daisley KW (1973) Routine hematological methods for use with fish blood. J Fish Biol 5:771–781

  • Borges A, Scotti LV, Siqueira DR, Jurinitz DF, Wassermann GF (2004) Hematologic and serum biochemical values for jundia (Rhamdia quelen). Fish Physiol Biochem 30:21–25

  • Boyar HC (1962) Blood cell types and differential counts in Atlantic herring, Clupea hurengus harengus. Copeia 1962:463–464

  • Cao X, Wang W (2010) Haematological and biochemical characteristics of two aquacultured carnivorous cyprinids, top mouth culter Culter alburnus (Basilewsky) and yellow cheek carp Elopichthys bambusa (Richardson). Aquac Res 41:1331–1338

  • Chen WH, Sun LT, Tsai CL, Song YL, Chang CF (2002) Cold-stress induced the modulation of Catecholamines, cortisol, immunoglobulin M, and leukocyte phagocytosis in Tilapia. Gen Comp Endocrinol 126:90–100

  • Coles EH (1986) Veterinary clinical pathology. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, USA, pp 1–42

  • Correa SADS, Abessa DMDS, Santos LGD, da Silva EB, Seriani R (2017) Differential blood counting in fish as a non-destructive biomarker of water contamination exposure. Toxicol Environ Chem 99:482–491

  • Das BC (1965) Age related trends in the blood chemistry and hematology of the Indian carp (Catla catla). Gerontologia 10:47–64

  • Demir O, Turker A, Acar U, Kesbic OS (2014) Effects of dietary fish oil replacement by unrefined peanut oil on the growth, serum biochemical and hematological parameters of Mozambique Tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis mossambicus). Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 14:887–892

  • Ellis AE (1977) Leucocytes and related cells in the plaice Pleuronectes platessa. J Fish Biol 8:143–156

  • Ellis AE (2001) Innate host defense mechanism of fish against virus and bacteria. Dev Comp Immunol 25:827–839

  • Esteban MA, Munoz J, Meseguer J (2000) Blood cells of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). flow cytometric and microscopic studies. Anat Rec 258:80–89

  • Fang J, Chen K, Cui HM, Peng X, Li T, Zuo ZC (2014) Morphological and cytochemical studies of peripheral blood cells of Schizothorax prenanti. Anat Histol Embryol 43:386–394

  • Fazio F (2019) Fish hematology analysis as an important tool of aquaculture: a review. Aquaculture 500:237–242

  • Gallardo MA, Sala-Rabanal M, Ibarz A, Padros F, Blasco J, Fernandez-Borra J, Sanchez J (2003) Functional alterations associated with “winter syndrome” in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Aquaculture 223:15–27

  • Gao ZX, Wang WM, Yang Y, Khalid A, Li DP, Zou GW, James SD (2007) Morphological studies of peripheral blood cells of the Chinese sturgeon Acipenser Sinensis. Fish Physiol Biochem 33:213–222

  • Gayatri A, Mohanty PK (2014) The Morphometrical characterisation of normal blood cells of two air breathing fishes, Clarias batrachus and Anabas testudineus. Int Res J Biol Sci 3:37–41

  • George ADI, Akinrotimi OA (2017) Influence of sex on haematological response of Clarias gariepinus juveniles treated with atrazine and Metalochlor. Trends Green Chem 3:1–6

  • Golemi S, Medja N, Lacej D (2013) Influence of sex on the hematological and morphometric parameters of Cyprinus carpio(Linnaeus, 1758) from Shkodra Lake – Acad J inter discip stud 2: 45-49

  • Gordeev IL, Mikryakov DV, Balabanova LV, Mikryakov VR (2014) Composition of leucocytes in peripheral blood of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni (Nototheniidae). J Ichthyol 54:422–425

  • Gordeev IL, Mikryakov DV, Balabanova LV, Mikryakov VR (2017) Composition of leucocytes in peripheral blood of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides, Smitt, 1898) (Nototheniidae). Polar Res 36:1374126

  • Groff JM, Zinkl JG (1999) Hematology and clinical chemistry of cyprinid fish, common carp and goldfish. Vet Clin North Amer Exo Anim Pract 2:741–746

  • Hardie DC, Hebert PDN (2003) The nucleotypic effects of cellular DNA content in cartilaginous and ray-finned fishes. Genome 46:683–706

  • Hartman FA, Lessler MA (1964) Erythrocyte measurements in fishes, amphibia, and reptiles. Biol Bull 126:83–88

  • Hlavova V (1993) Reference values of the haematological indices in brown trout, Salmo trutta morpha fario. Folia Zool 42:47–62

  • Hrubec TC, Cardinale JL, Smith SA (2000) Hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals for cultured tilapia (Oreochromis hybrid). Vet Clin Pathol 29:7–12

  • Imani M, Halimi M, Khara H (2015) Effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on hematological parameters of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Comp Clin Pathol 24:491–495

  • Kapila R, Kapila S, Basade Y (2000) Sex related haematological variations in Himalayan golden mahseer, Tor putitora (ham.) – Ind J fish 47:81-85

  • Karthikeyeni S, Siva Vijayakumar T, Vasanth S, Arul Ganesh MM, Subramanian P (2013) biosynthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles and its haematological effects on fresh water fish Oreochromis mossambicus. J Acad Indus Res 10:645–649

  • Kori-Siakpere O, Ake JEG, Idoge E (2005) Haematological characteristics of the African snakehead, Parachanna obscura. Afric J Biotechnol 4:527–530

  • Lavanya S, Ramesh M, Kavitha C, Malarvizhi A (2011) Hematological, biochemical and ion regulatory responses of Indian major carp, Catla catla during chronic sublethal exposure to inorganic arsenic. Chemosphere 82:977–985

  • Lay PA, Baldwin J (1999) What determines the size of teleost erythrocytes? Correlations with oxygen transport and nuclear volume. Fish Physiol Biochem 20:31–35

  • Lecklin T, Nikinmaa M (1998) Erythropoiesis in Arctic charr is not stimulated by anaemia. J Fish Biol 53:1169–1177

  • Lewis JH (1996) Comparative hemostasis in vertebrates. Plenum Press, New York

  • Lopez-Ruiz A, Esteban MA, Meseguer J (1992) Blood cells of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.): light and electron microscopic studies. Anat Rec 234:161–171

  • Luskova V, Halacka K, Lusk S (1995) Dynamics of the haemogram in the nase, Chondrostoma nasus. Folia Zool 44:69–74

  • Metin K, Bashimoghlu Koca Y, Kargin Kiral F, Koca S, Turkozan O (2008) Blood cell morphology and plasma biochemistry of captive Mauremys caspica (Gmelin, 1774) and Mauremys rivulata (Valenciennes, 1833). Acta Vet Brno 77:163–174

  • Morrow WJW, Pulsford A (1980) Identification of peripheral blood leucocytes of the dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula L.) by electron microscopy. J Fish Biol 17:461–475

  • Motlagh SP, Zarejabad AM, Nasrabadi RG, Ahmadifar E, Molaee M (2012) Haematology, morphology and blood cells characteristics of male and female Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Comp Clin Pathol 21:15–21

  • Natt MP, Herrick CA (1952) A new blood diluent for counting erythrocyte and leucocytes of chicken. Poultry Sci 31:735–738

  • Nespolo RF, Rosenmann M (2002) Intraspecific allometry of haematological parameters in Basilichthys australis. J Fish Biol 60:1358–1362

  • Nikoo M, Falahatkar B, Alekhorshid M, Haghi BN, Asadollahpour A, Dangsareki MZ, Langroudi HF (2010) Physiological stress responses in kutum Rutilus frisii kutum subjected to captivity. Int Aquat Res 2:55–60

  • Orun I, Dorucu M, Yazlak H (2003) Hematological parameters of three cyprinid fish species from Karakaya dam lake, Turkey. J Biol Sci 3:320–328

  • Pal A, Parida SP, Swain MM (2008) Hematological and plasma biochemistry in fan-throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana (Sauria:Agamidae). Russ J Herpetol 2:110–116

  • Parida SP, Dutta SK, Pal A (2012) Hematological and plasma biochemistry and plasma biochemistry in Psammophilus blanfordanus (Sauria:Agamidae). Comp Clin Pathol 21:1387–1394

  • Pavlidis M, Futter WC, Katharios P, Divanach P (2007) Blood cell profile of six Mediterranean mariculture fish species. J Appl Ichthyol 23:70–73

  • Powell MD, Wright GM, Burka JF (1990) Eosinophilia granule cells in the gills of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: evidence of migration. J Fish Biol 37:495–497

  • Pradhan SC, Patra AK, Mohanty KC, Pal A (2014a) Hematological and plasma biochemistry in Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton 1822). Comp Clin Pathol 23:509–518

  • Pradhan SC, Patra AK, Pal A (2014b) Hematological and plasma chemistry of Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822). J Appl Ichthyol 30:48–54

  • Prasad G, Charles S (2010) Haematology and leucocyte enzyme cytochemistry of a threatened yellow catfish Horabagrus brachysoma (Gunther 1864). Fish Physiol Biochem 36:435–443

  • Santos AA, Egami MI, Ranzani-Paiva MJT, Juliano Y (2009) Hematological parameters and phagocytic activity in fat Snook (Centropomus parallelus): seasonal variation, sex and gonadal maturation. Aquaculture 296:359–366

  • Saravanan M, Kumar KP, Ramesh M (2011) Haematological and biochemical responses of freshwater teleost fish Cyprinus carpio (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes) during acute and chronic sublethal exposure to lindane. Pestic Biochem Physiol 100:206–211

  • Sardar M, Khan M.A.H.N.A, Alam M, and Mamnur RM (1999) Studies on haematological parameters of walking catfish Claris batrachus. Bangladesh Fish 2: 13–22

  • Satheeshkumar P, Ananthan G, Senthil Kumar D, Jagadeesan L (2011) Hematology and biochemical parameters of different feeding behavior of teleost fishes from Vellar estuary, India. Comp Clin Pathol 21:1187–1191

  • Seriani R, Franca JG, Lombardi JV, Brito JM, Ranza-ni-Paiva MJT (2015) Hematological changes and cytogen-otoxicity in the Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus caused by sub-chronic exposures to mercury and selenium. Fish Physiol Biochem 41:311–322

  • Shahjahan MD, Helaluddin MD, Bain V, Haque MM (2018) Increased water temperature alteredhematobiochemical parameters and structure of peripheral erythrocytes in striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Fish Physiol Biochem 44:1309–1318

  • Sharma NK, Akhtar MS, Pandey NN, Singh R, Singh AK (2017) Sex specific seasonal variation in hematological and serum biochemical indices of Barilius bendelisis from central Himalaya, India. Proc Natl Acad Sci, India Sect B: Biolog Sci 87:1185–1197

  • Sheikh ZA, Ahmed I (2019) Impact of environmental changes on plasma biochemistry and hematological parameters of Himalayan snow trout. Schizthorax plagiostomus Comp Clin Pathol 28:793–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-019-02914-1

  • Shigdar S, Harford A, Ward AC (2009) Cytochemical characterisation of the leucocytes and thrombocytes from Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii, Mitchell). Fish Shellfish Immunol 26:731–736

  • Souza FPD, Lima ECSD, Urrea-Rojas AM, Suphoronski SA, Facimoto CT, Bezerra Junior JDS, Silvade Oliveria TE, Pereia UDP, Disantis GW, Lopesde Oliveria CA, Lopera-Barrero NM, (2020) Effects of dietary supplementation with a microalga (Schizochytrium sp.) on the hemato-immunological, and intestinal histological parameters and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia in net cages. Plos One15: e0226977

  • Suganthi P, Murali M, Sadiq Bukhar A, Syed Mohammed HE, Basu H, Singhal RK (2015) Haematological studies on freshwater Tilapia treated with ZnO nanoparticles. J Adv Appl Sci Res 1:41–67

  • Tang Y, Peng X, Fang J, Cui HM, Zuo ZC, Deng JL (2015) Characterization of hematological parameters and blood cells of cultured Gymnocypris eckloni. J Appl Ichthyol 31:931–936

  • Tavares-Dias M, Moraes FRD (2007) Leukocyte and thrombocyte reference values for channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Raf), with an assessment of morphologic, cytochemical, and ultrastructural features. Vet Clin Pathol 36:49–54

  • Ueda IK, Egami MI, Sasso WS, Matushima ER (2001) Cytochemicalaspects of the peripheral blood cells of Oreochromis (Tilapia) niloticus. (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cichlidae, Teleostei)—part II. Brazil J Vet Res Anim Sci 38:273–277

  • Vazquez GR, Guerrero GA (2007) Characterization of blood cells and haematological parameters in Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Perciformes). Tissue Cell 39:151–160

  • Van der Oost R, Beyer J, Vermeulen NP (2003) Fish bio-accumulation and biomarkers in environmental risk assessment: a review. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 13:57–149

  • Weinreb EL, Weinreb S (1969) A study of experimentally induced endocytosis in a teleost. I. Light micriscopy of peripheral blood cell responses. Zoologica-New York, 54: 25

  • Zarejabad AM, Jalali MA, Sudagar M, Pouralimotlagh S (2010a) Hematology of great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) juvenile exposed to brackish water environment. Fish Physiol Biochem 36:655–659

  • Zarejabad AM, Sudagar M, Pouralimotlagh S, Bastami KD (2010b) Effects of rearing temperature on hematological and biochemical parameters of great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) juvenile. Comp Clin Pathol 19:367–371

  • Zexia G, Weimin W, Yi Y, Abbas K, Dapeng L, Guiwei Z, Diana JS (2007) Morphological studies of peripheral blood cells of the Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis. Fish Physiol Biochem 33:213–222

  • Zhang HJ, Xie CX, Liu HP, Yang XF (2011) Blood cells of a sisorid catfish Glyptosternum maculatum (Siluriformes: Sisoridae), in Tibetan plateau. Fish Physiol Biochem 37:169–176

  • Zhao H, Panase P, Zhang Z, Yao P, Zhang Y, Suwannapoom C (2018) Hematological and plasm biochemical values for Rhinogobio ventralis in the Yangtze River, China. Comp Clin Pathol 27:1–5

  • ZhenGuo ZY, XingHao ZO, TieDong WA (2002) Microstructure and ultrastructure of the peripheral blood cells of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Curr Zool 48:393–401

  • Zhou X, Li M, Abbas K, Wang W (2009) Comparison of haematology and serum biochemistry of cultured and wild dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Fish Physiol Biochem 35:435–441

  • Zhou YC, Xing YN, Feng QY (2003) Research advance in the haemocytes of fishes. Nat Sci J Hainan Univ 21:171–176

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Head, Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir for providing necessary laboratory facilities. The authors are also gratefully acknowledged UGC, New Delhi for financial support in the form of ‘Himalayan Biodiversity–Documentation, Bio-prospection & conservation’ under the Scheme ‘Center with Potential for Excellence in Particular Areas (CPEPA).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, India

    Zubair Ahmad Sheikh & Imtiaz Ahmed

Authors
  1. Zubair Ahmad Sheikh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Imtiaz Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Imtiaz Ahmed.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed by the authors.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sheikh, Z.A., Ahmed, I. Effect of sex on hematology, morphology and blood cell characteristics of Schizothorax niger. Comp Clin Pathol 29, 1069–1078 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-020-03153-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-020-03153-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation