Effects of Sodium-Heparin and Dipotassium EDTA on the Haematological Parameters and Blood Cell Morphology of Freshwater Fish Schizothorax labiatus (Mcclelland, 1842)

The present study was conducted with an aim of evaluating the effects of sodium-heparin (20 I.U/ml) and di-potassium EDTA (1.0mg/ml) on the haematological parameters and blood cell morphology of freshwater fish Schizothorax labiatus. For blood sampling, fifteen fishes of uniform weight (250 ± 18.5 g) and length (25 ± 2.1 cm) were selected. All the haematological analysis were carried out immediately after sampling. An increase in the haematocrit level was observed in the samples collected with K₂EDTA. Red blood cell counts were lower in K₂EDTA collected samples as compared to heparinized samples. The WBC counts and haemoglobin concentrations did not differ significantly (p>0.05). Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increased in K₂EDTA sample, while a significant decrease (p2EDTA as compared to heparinized sample. There was however, no significant difference (p>0.05) observed in WBC and thrombocyte area of K₂EDTA and heparinized sample. The present study suggests the use of Na-heparin as a preferred anticoagulant for routine haematological analysis of fish blood.