Haematological alterations of mullet Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843) naturally infected by Ergasilus mosulensis Rahemo, 1982 (Copepoda: Ergaslidae) in a private fish farm from Basrah Province, Iraq

Abstract

Generally, there is no previous information about haematological parameters of parasitized fish maintained in fish farms in Al- Mashab area, Basrah, Iraq. In this study, the effects of parasitism by the copepod Ergasilus mosulensis. on haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBCS), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and leucocytes were analysed in infected Planiliza abu. The high level of parasitism found in infected fishes was responsible for alterations in blood picture Hb, HCT, RBCS, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and leucocytes (P > 0.05). This is the first report regarding hematology of cultivated freshwater fish which are infected with parasitic copepods in Basrah Province.