HEMATOLOGIC METRICS OF WESAFUops, A CICHLID FROM LAGOS, NIGERIA
O. M. OLARINMOYE *
Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
H. A. FASHINA-BOMBATA
Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
O. J. ADERINOLA
Department of Zoology, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
E. O. CLARKE
Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
A. O. ADEBOYEJO
Department of Fisheries, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Very little information exists on the physiology of Wesafu, a cichlid fish believed to belong to the Tilapia zilli complex, of Epe lagoon, situated in Lagos Nigeria. This study examined and determined the results of hematological metrics of twenty-five subjects of the species in captivity. Results obtained include haematocrit [14.91%], Red Blood cell count [1.33 M/mm3], Mean corpuscular Volume [119.3±5.74 fl.], Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin [47.7±26.9 pg.], Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration [44.47±5.51], Complete White Blood Cell count [125.16±49.m/mm3], Differential White Blood Cell counts [Lymphocytes: 99.7%; Granulocytes: 0.06%; Monocytes: 0.175% and Thrombocytes: 203.3 m/mm3 of young specimens of this ecotype fish [n=25], maintained on an experimental farm. Data obtained will be useful in the evaluation of the health status of this fish under conditions of intensive culture, just as it will in a natural environment.
Keywords: Wesafu, hematology, cichlid, Lagos