The hematological profile of farmed Sorubim lima: reference intervals, cell morphology and cytochemistry.

Abstract

Hematology implies rapid and practical analysis to assist the diagnosis of fi sh homeostatic imbalance.This study determined the blood reference intervals in an important native South American catfi sh farmed in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland, Sorubim lima (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae), and describes the morphological and cytochemical characteristics of the cells.A total of 92 fi sh reared in a fi sh farm were examined for reference intervals 25 -75% of total plasmatic protein, hemoglobin, red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and total thrombocyte and leukocyte count (WBC).Periodic acid Schiff (PAS) with salivary amylase, bromophenol blue, Sudan black B and toluidine blue (metacromasy) were the cytochemical stains employed to signal glycogen, proteins, lipids and nuclei in thrombocytes and leucocytes.In the blood smears, monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, PAS -positive granular lymphocytes (LG-PAS) and thrombocytes were observed.Siluriforme similar results were observed in neutrophils and eosinophils morphology.Compared to other pimelodidae RBC, hematocrit and MCV showed the lowest index variation.In contrast to other siluriformes fi sh, S. lima showed the concomitant presence of circulating eosinophils and basophils.