Haematological indices of Channa punctatus as an indicator of heavy metal pollution in waste water aquaculture pond, Panethi, India

Abstract

Investigations on the concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Cr and Zn) in water and their effects on haematological parameters were observed in Channa punctatus. The results reveal that heavy metals available in water were in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Co > Ni > Cu = Cr. In the present study, the haematological data of C. punctatus revealed that significant (P<0.05 and ˂0.01) decrease was observed in red blood cell count (RBC) count and hemoglobin (Hb) content respectively, but white blood cell (WBC) count showed significant (P<0.01) increase when compared to the control. Increase and decrease in haematological indices means that fish was exposed to effluents containing heavy metals and was under stress.