Effect of different levels of iron sulfate on some haematological parameters of ship sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris

Abstract

The present study was conduct to examine different dietary levels of iron (FeSo4) on some haematological parameters of Ship sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBCs), differential WBCs, hematocrit (Hct), Hemoglobin (Hb), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), immunoglobulin (IgM), ferritin, transferrin and plasma Fe2+. Four experimental treatments and one control group with three replicates were considered for the experiment. The experimental treatments were fish fed by experimental diets containing different levels of FeSo4 i.e. 100, 200, 250, and 300 mg/kg diet. After 60 days, there were significant differences between experimental groups in terms of WBCs, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, MCH and MCHC, MCV, total plasma protein, IgM, ferritin, transferrin and plasma Fe2+ (P<0.05). In 100 mg.iron/kg.diet treatment, more levels of IgM and total plasma protein were observed compared to other experimental groups (P<0.05). The highest values of neutrophils, monocytes and MCHC were found in control fish whereas MCV, MCH and eosinophils values were higher in 200 mg iron/kg.diet treatment (P<0.05). Also, more WBCs were observed in 250 mg.iron/kg.diet treatment than in other groups (P<0.05). The values of lymphocytes, RBC, Hct, Hb, ferritin, transferrin and plasma Fe2+ were higher in fish fed by 300 mg.iron/kg.diet compared to other experimental groups (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that the supplementation of ship sturgeon diet with high levels of iron enhances the RBC, Hct, Hb, ferritin, transferrin and plasma iron.