Erythropoietic response and hematological parameters in the catfish Clarias albopunctatus exposed to sublethal concentrations of actellic.

Clarias albopunctatus fingerlings were subjected to sublethal concentrations (0, 0.3, 0. 5, 0.8, and 1.0microg/L) of actellic for 18 days in a static bioassay system. The hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, hematocrit, and leucocyte counts were affected by actellic. Compared with the control, the hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the actellic-exposed fish. There was significant leucocytosis in the actellic-exposed fish. The fish exposed to actellic suffered macrocytic anemia. The changes in the hematological parameters were concentration dependent except in leucocyte counts.