Hematology and gut histopathology of cultured nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Linn.) infected with acanthocephalan parasites

Date

4-2014

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Zoology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Vachel Garry V. Paller

Abstract

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is considered as one of the major sources of protein in the Philippines. Many studies have already been conducted on improving monoculture in tilapia, however, few studies have been done on fish health particularly on parasite infections. Tilapia from Sampaloc Lake, Laguna were reported to be infected with Acanthocephalan parasites in their gut. Hence, in this study hematological and histological parameters were measured to evaluate the fish physiological status that may be due to parasite infection. Blood samples were collected from infected and uninfected tilapia and the parameters such as RBC, WBC and packed cell volume were measured. Results showed that mean RBC count was higher in moderate-infected and high-infected fish (1.97x106/uL and 1.98x106/uL, respectively) than in uninfected and low-infected (1.77x106/uL and 1.72x106/uL, respectively). Results also showed lower mean WBC count for uninfected (9.2x104/uL) and low-infected (9.4x104/uL) than the moderate-infected (8.6x104/uL) and high-infected fish (8.1x104/uL). Mean packed cell volume also showed a decreasing trend, i.e., 40.07% for the uninfected, 40.77% for low-infected, 39.74% for moderate-infected and 34.62% for high-infected. However, statistical analyses showed that there were no significant differences on the hematological values among the uninfected and infected fish. In addition, histological xv examinations also revealed that parasites invade the submucosa layer of the gut causing lesions and exfoliation of the mucosal layer. Proliferation of lymphocytes and eosinophilic granulocytes was also observed around the infected area indicating an immune response by the fish host. Erythrocytes were also found in the gut lumen of heavily infected fish indicating hemorrhage. Although histopathological changes were observed in infected fish, this study revealed no severe effect on the hematology and general health of the fish. Thus, concluding that Acanthocephala infection has no significant effect on the immediate health of its host O. niloticus.

Language

English

Call Number

LG 993.5 2014 B4 /S97

Notes

status: in process

loc: UPLB Main Library Cataloging Section

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS