Influence of anticoagulants and blood storage on hematological values in tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum

Abstract

Tambaqui Colossoma macropomum, Cuvier, 1818 (Osteichthyes: Characidae) were used in this study. The blood of the animals was obtained by punction on the tail vessel with a heparinized syringe (5000 IU) and with one containing EDTA 10%. After collection, the blood was immediately processed in order to measure hematocrit percentage and hemoglobin concentration. It was then left in room temperature where it was kept for a ten-hour period, after which hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations were measured again. Results indicated that, in teleosts, anticoagulant selection can interfere significantly with the results of the studied hematological parameters. However, blood storage at room temperature did not have a significant effect (a=0.05) on hematocrit percentage, hemoglobin rate or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).