Haematology of swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri. I: blood parameters and light microscopy of blood cells

Abstract

The main blood parameters of the swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, were studied. Morphology, granulation staining and cytochemistry of leucocytes in peripheral blood, kidney, spleen and gills were investigated by light microscopy. Blood parameters are similar to other fish species: Red blood cell count (4.5 × 106μl), white blood cell count (15.2 × 103μl), haema-tocrit (33.8%) haemoglobin (7.8 mg ml−1), MCV (mean corpuscle volume, 75.1 μm3). MCH (mean content of haemoglobin, 17.3 pg), MCHC (mean percentage haemoglobin/erythrocyte, 23.1%/100 ml erythrocytes). Leucocytes can be classified into lymphocytes, thrombocytes, neutrophilic and eosinophilic gra-nulocytes, monocytes macrophages and melanomacrophages. Morphological and cytochemical features of the cells are described and compared with results from other fish species.