Haematological changes in the blood of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) juveniles fed poultry litter

B O Omitoyin

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management,
Universityof Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria
bam_omitoyin@yahoo.co.uk

Abstract

A twelve week  feeding trial was carried out to assess the effect of feeding poultry litter on haematological parameters of Clarias gariepinus juveniles as bio-indicator of health status. A control experiment was set up with fish fed a normal 40% crude protein diet.

Fish fed with poultry litter showed a gradual decrease in haematological values of parked cell Volume(PVC,15.00±0.15), Haemoglobin (HB,5.00±0.09), Red blood cell (RBC,2.60±0.06) Mean Corpusular Volume(MCV,57.69±0.62), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH,19.23±0.03), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC, 33.33 ± 0.02), White Blood Cell (WBC, 11,500 ± 33.68) which were significantly lower (P<0.05) than  haematological values of fish fed the control diet with PCV (29.10 ± 0.30), HB (9.60 ± 0.20) RBC (3.80 ± 0.18)  MCV (76.32 ± 0.14), MCH (25.26 ± 0.14) MCHC (33.10 ± 0.06) and WBC (9,200 ± 0.20) which indicate poor physiological blood production.

Key words: Clarias gariepinus, haematological changes, poultry litter

Introduction

Nigeria aquaculture industry is currently faced with the problem of inadequate supply and prohibitive cost of quality fish feeds (Omitoyin 2005). Fagbenro and Adeparusi (2003) reported increasing attempt to develop practical diets for farmed fish in Nigeria. However most fish farmers particularly in the rural area still depend on agricultural wastes including poultry litter for feeding fish. Omitoyin (1995) and Aderemi et al (2004) noted that Nigeria produces large quantities of agricultural and agro-industrial by products, which serves as alternative feed sources to conventional feed ingredients.

Poultry litter has been considered to have some nutritional values containing about 25.75% crude protein (Ndifon 1987). While Omitoyin (1995) noted that the concept of utilizing poultry litter is highly desirable since it will not only eliminate the problem of waste disposal but also provide cheap fish feed at little cost. Leray (1970), Shiloh and Viola (1973), Kerns and Roelofs (1973), Degani et al (1984) and Gallagher and Degani (1988) have fed different species of fish with poultry litters and other form of Non protein nitrogen with different results. However, the adverse effect of feeding fish with poultry droppings particularly on haematological parameters is very scanty. Blood is a good indicator to determine the health of an organism (Joshi et al 2002a). It also acts as pathological reflector of the whole body, hence haematological parameters are important in diagnosing the functional status of exposed animal to toxicants (Joshi et al 2002a).

This study therefore investigates the changes in haematological parameters of juvenile catfish fed with poultry litter.
 

Materials and methods

Experimental fish and management

One hundred and twenty Clarias gariepinus of average length (11.5 ±1.2cm) and weight (16.0 ± 0.2g) were purchased from Agodi Fish Farm in Ibadan, Nigeria. The fish were disinfected with 0.1% potassium permanganate as described by Joshi et al (2002b) and acclimated for 14 days in the laboratory in six 90m x 60mx 30m glass aquaria. Eighteen fishes were randomly distributed into each aquarium and fed with 40% crude protein commercial feed prior to the commencement of the experiment. The test fish were fed for 12 weeks with dried poultry litter collected from the battery cage system of the Teaching and Research farm of the University of Ibadan. The litter was sun-dried for two days before grinded and pelleted, while the control group were fed with 40% crude protein commercial catfish diet at 3% of their body weight.

Water quality parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH of the experimental set up were monitored using standard methods (APHA 1998; Boyd 1979). While the proximate composition of poultry litter and control diets was determined using the AOAC (1990) methods.

Haematological evaluation

1½ millilitres (ml) of blood were collected at the beginning of the feeding trial (week 0) and at the end of trial (week 12) from the caudal peduncle of both the test and control fish as described by Stockopf (1993) and Joshi et al(2000a). The blood samples were dispensed into tubes containing lithium heparin anticoagulant. Haemoglobin was estimated by cyanomethemglobin method. Red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) were counted by Neubauer's improved haemocytometer using Hyem's and Turks solution as a diluting fluid respectively. Packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC); mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell volume (MCV) were calculated respectively using standard formula described by Dacie and Lewis (1991) and Joshi et al (2002a).

Statistical analysis

Data obtained were subjected to one way analysis of variance (Steel et al 1997) while the means were compared for significant differences using Duncan's multiple range test (Duncan 1955).

Results

The proximate composition of poultry litter and the control diet are presented in table 1. Poultry litter has a low value of 17.43% crude protein which was significantly lower (P < 0.05) to 39.27% for the control diet. While the ash and crude fibre content of poultry litter were significantly higher (P <0.05) than that of control diet.

Table 2 shows the haematological changes in test fish and the control fish. Fish fed with poultry litter showed a significantly remarkable decrease (P <0.05) in haematological parameter values compared to the fish fed control diet and the initial values.

The water quality parameters of the experimental set-up are presented in table 3.

There were no differences in water quality parameter in both treatments.
 

Discussion

Proximate composition of the poultry litter fed to catfish in this study revealed that it was less than half of the optimum level of 40% CP when compared with that of control diet as recommended by Faturoti et al (1986).

There was a remarkable decrease in the values of haematological parameters in the Clarias gariepinus fed poultry litter. This is in agreement with Joshi et al (2002b) that reported effect of toxicants on blood parameters in freshwater teleost fish Clarias batrachus. Bhatt and Farswan (1992) also observed that Red blood Cell (RBC), Total White Blood Cell (TWRB), Haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) decreases with exposure of Barilius bendalensis (Ham) to plant toxicant. The increase in haematological parameters observed in control fish fed with normal diet agreed with the findings of Joshi et al (2002b) that survival of fish can be correlated with increase in antibody production which help in the survival and recovery. The reduction in haematological parameters is indicative of blood loss from fish fed with poultry litter compared to fish fed with normal diet. The values for fish fed poultry litter are lower than those reported for the African catfish by Agbede et al (1999) and Oyelese et al (1999).Although there were no significant differences between the initial haematological values of fish before the feeding trial and those fed the control diet, values recorded for both were within the ranges for healthy juveniles catfish (Oyelese et al 1999,Omoniyi et al 2002).Gabriel et al (2004) further reported a non significant differences in haematological values for apparently healthy C.gariepinus before and after acclimation which was similar to the observation in this study.

Increase in total WBC (leucopomia) as observed in the fish fed with normal diet is attributed to increased production of leucocytes in the haematopoietic tissue of the kidney and perhaps the spleen. Lymphocytes are the most numerous cells comprising the leucocytes, which function in the production of antibodies and chemical substances serving as defence against infection. The primary consequence of observed changes in leucocyte count in stressed fish is suppression of the immune system and increased susceptibility to disease (Wedmeyer and Wood 1974).

Decreased in RBC count, haemoglobin and haemocrit values in Clariasgariepinus juveniles fed poultry litter in this study is similar to the observations of Gill and Pant (1981), Joshi et al (2002c) in Puntiusconchonius and Clarias batrachus exposed to different toxicants. Sampathy et al (1998) also reported a decrease in haematological parameters of Oreochromis mossambrius exposed to copper and zinc. The anaemic condition of fish fed poultry litter in this study may however be due to its protein inadequacy to meet the fish nutrient requirements, which might have inhibited erythrocyte production or increase rate of destruction. Lower haemoglobin level according to Joshi, et al (2002c) might decrease the ability of fish to enhance its activity in order to meet occasional demands.

Water quality parameters of experimental set-up for both treatments were similar and within the optimum range recommended for culture of Clarias gariepinus (Viveen et al 1985 and Omitoyin 1995).
 

Conclusions

• In conclusion the present study revealed that feeding poultry litter as a supplementary feed to Clarias gariepinus created haematological disturbances which ultimately resulted in anaemic conditions.

• Therefore direct use of poultry litter as sole supplementary feed should be discouraged.
   

References

Aderemi F A, Ladokun O A and Tewe O O 2004 Study on haematological and serum biochemistry of layers fed biodegraded cassava root sieviate. Bowen Journal of Agriculture, 1 (1): 79 - 83.

Agbede S A, Ogunsanmi A O, Taiwo V O, Oso J A and Ogundipe T I 1999 Toxic effects of poultry faeces on Clarias gariepinus broodstock. Tropical Veterinarian 17:181-191.

AOAC 1990  Association of official analytical chemist. Official methods of analysis, 15^th edition, Washington, D.C. 1298Pp.

APHA 1998 Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water. 20^th edition. American public health association, Washington.

Bhatt J P and Farswam V S 1992 Haemolytic activity of piscicidal compounds of some plants to a fresh Barilius bendalensis (Ham). Journal of Environmental.Biology 13(4): 333 - 342

Boyd C E 1979 Water quality in warm water fish ponds. Auburn University Alabama Agriculture Experimental Station 359pp

Dacie S I V and Lewis S M 1991 Practical haematology (7^th edition) J and A Churchill Ltd. Livingston, London, Melborne and New York.

Degani G, Desves C and Levanon D 1984 The influence of cow manure on growth rates of Orechromisaureas and Clarias lazera in Israel small outdoor tanks. BAMIDGEH (4): 36P

Duncan R M 1955 Multiple range and multiple f-tests. Biometrics 11: 1 - 42.

Fagbenro A O and Adeparusi E 2003 Feedstuff and dietary substitution for farmed fish in Nigeria. Paper presented at Pan African Fish and Fisheries Conference Contonou, Benin Republic. Book of abstracts P. 276.

Faturoti E O Balogun A M and Ugwu L L C 1986 Nutrient utilization and growth responses of C. lazera fed different dietary protein levels. Nigeria Journal of Applied  Fishery and Hydrobiology 1: 41 – 45.

Gabriel U U, Ezeri G N O and Opabunmi O O 2004 Influence of sex, source, health status and acclimation on haemotology of Clarias gariepinus(Burch1822). African Journal of Biotechnology Volume3 (9): 463-467

Gallagher M L and Degani G 1988 Poultry meal and poultry oil as sources of protein and lipid in the diet of European Eels (Anguilla anguilla) Aquaculture 73: 177 - 187.

Gill I S and Pant J C 1981 Effect of sublethal concentrations of mercury in a teleost Puntiusconchominus biochemical and haematological responses. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 9:571-573

Joshi P K, Bose M and Harish D 2002a Changes in certain haematological parameters in a siluroid catfish Clarias batrachus (Linn) exposed to cadmium chloride. Pollution Resources 21 (2): 129 - 131.

Joshi P K, Bose M and Harish D 2002c Haematological changes in the blood of Clariasbatrachus exposed to mercuric chloride. Ecotoxicological Environmental Monitoring 12 (2): 119- 122.

Joshi P K, Harish D and Bose M 2002b Effect of lindane and malathione exposure to certain blood parameters in a fresh water teleost fish Clarias batrachus. Pollution Resources21 (1): 55 - 57.

Kerns C L and Roelofs  E W 1973  Poultry wastes in the diets of Israeli carp. BAMIDGES 4(29): 126-135

Leray C 1970 Experimental approaches to artificial feeding of some sea fishes. In: J Gaudet (editor) Report of the 1970 workshop on fish feed technology 85p.

Ndifon P M 1987 Studies on the Nutritive value of Chicken offal meal with emphasison its production shelf life stability and its biological evaluation. Ph.D Thesis University of Ibadan 215pp.

Omitoyin B O 1995 Utilization of poultry by products (feathers and offals) in the diet of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). P.hD thesis, University of Ibadan, Nigeria 219pp.

Omitoyin B O 2005 Problems and prospects of fish feed production in Nigeria. Invited technical paper presented at the USAID aquaculture marketing stakeholder forum held at University of Ibadan Conference Center on 13^th December 2005. 3Pp.

Omoniyi I, Agbon A O and Sodunke S A 2002 Effect of lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum) leaf dust extract on weight and haematological changes in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell). Journal of applied sciences and environmental management Volume 6 no 2: 37-41.

Oyelese A O, Taiwo V O, Ogunsanmi A O and Faturoti E O 1999 Toxicological effects of cassava peels on haematology, serum biochemistry and tissue pathology of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. Tropical Veterinarian 17:17-30.

Sampathy K, James R and Akbar Ali K M 1998 Effects of copper and zinc on blood parameters and prediction of their recovery in Oreochromismossambicus (pisces) Indian Journal of Fisheries 45 (2): 129 - 139.

Shiloh S and Viola S 1973 Experiments in the nutrition of growing carp in cages BAMIDGEH 25: 17 -31.

Steel R G, Torrie J H and Dickey D A 1997 Principles and procedures of statistics: A biometrical approach. Mc Graw-Hill Singapore.

Stoskopf M K 1993. Clinical pathology in fish medicine. W.B. Saunders Company, Hartcourt Brace Jovanourah Inc.

ViveenW J A R, Rither C J J, Van Oordt P G W J, Janssen J A L and Huisman E A 1985 Practical manual for the culture of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Directorate General for International Technical Corporation, The Hague, The Netherlands, Pp. 93.

Wedemeyer G A and Wood J 1974 Stress a predisposing factor in fish disease. U.S.Fish/Wildlife Service fish diseases leaflet 399 Pp.

Received 13 July 2006; Accepted 15 August 2006; Published 1 November 2006

Go to top