Effects of different anticoagulants on the haematology of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Abstract

Blood preservatives (anticoagulants) prevent blood from clotting while ensuring that the concentration of the component to be analysed stays constant prior to the analytical procedures. The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of different anticoagulants, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), fluoride oxalate, sodium citrate and lithium heparin, on the haematological parameters of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Forty fish were obtained and separated into four groups representing the four treatments. Blood samples were collected from ten fish from each group and stored in separate anticoagulant laden bottles. Lithium heparin was used as control in this experiment. Each sample was processed, and values of the parameters were recorded. The RBC, haemoglobin, and PCV of the anticoagulants used were similar as no significant difference (P > 0.05) was revealed among the treatments. The heterophil levels of fluoride oxalate treatment group was significantly higher than control, this in turn led to an increase in HLR (heterophil-lymphocyte ratio). Therefore, the haematologic alteration observed in this study, which include heterophilia associated with fluoride oxalate anticoagulant, should be put into consideration when making a choice of anticoagulants for haematological analysis in C. gariepinus.