Haematological Studies of Mercuric Chloride Affected Freshwater Catfish Clarias gariepinus Fed with Spirulina

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Mercuric chloride on the haematological parameters in the freshwater catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Control, 0.1mg/l mercuric chloride and 5% Spirulina fed fishes exposed to 0.1mg/l mercuric chloride were used in the basic test for a period of 120 days. The fishes were sacrificed after an interval of 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days respectively and haematological tests were performed. A total of 30 fishes were used for each concentration as well as in the control. The treatment with mercuric chloride was found to inflict a drastic reduction in the total count of RBC’s. The reduction was time dependent; as concentration of mercuric chloride increased, the RBC levels declined. Exposed fishes showed a significant increase in W.B.C count when compared to the control. Whereas the fishes exposed to mercuric chloride showed significant decrease in haemoglobin content and haematocrit level when compared to the control whereas Spirulina fed fishes showed a recovery in haematological profile of the fishes as compared to the fishes exposed to 0.1mg/l mercuric chloride.