Hematology and plasma chemistry of wild shortnose sturgeonAcipenser brevirostrumfrom Delaware River, USA

Abstract

Summary The effects of gender, maturity, intersex condition and annual and seasonal variability were studied on hematology and plasma chemistry of wild shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum from the Delaware River. A total of 68 fish were captured by gill net and examined in May‐June, and 61 additional fish were captured and examined in November during 2006–2011. Total leukocyte counts (WBC), leukogram, PCV and the plasmatic concentrations of 13 biochemical analytes were measured from these fish using standard clinical methods. Season and gender had no effect on hematologic indices, but PCV was inversely related to maturity of fish (robust intervals: 27–40% in immature fish, 21–36% in mature fish). Significant annual variation was detected in eosinophil (annual range in robust interval: 0–1176 lower limit, 670–7882 upper limit) and monocyte (0–210 lower limit, 560–1980 upper limit) counts (cells μl−1). The lower limit of the robust interval varied annually by as much as 6% for sodium and 12% for chloride, while the upper limit of the robust interval varied annually by as much as 8% for sodium and 15% for chloride. Seasonal differences in mean sodium and chloride (6–7% higher in autumn) and proteins (5–13% higher in autumn) may reflect environmentally induced changes in osmoregulation, while aspartate aminotransferase was 38–55% higher in the spring. In females, calcium and total protein were highest in mature fish (robust intervals: 10.5–22.1 mg dl−1 Ca2+, 4.1–6.9 g dl−1 TP) compared to immature (7.3–16.9 mg dl−1 Ca2+, 2.8–5.2 g dl−1 TP) and developing fish (7.8–18.9 mg dl−1 Ca2+, 3.2–5.6 g dl−1 TP), indicating changes associated with vitellogenesis. Glucose was significantly higher in females (robust interval: 23–167 mg dl−1) than males (35–138 mg dl−1), possibly indicating gender‐based differences in energetic requirements. Intersex condition was associated with lowered glucose, potassium and creatinine phosphokinase. Reference intervals reported here are useful for evaluating the health and physiological condition of shortnose sturgeon.

Examination of white blood cell indicators for three different ploidy level sturgeon species reared in an indoor recirculation aquaculture system for one year

“…The lymphocytes constituted 76.89 ± 7.82%, followed by the granulocytes with 22.04 ± 7.47% and monocytes 1.06 ± 0.94%. Comparing our results (summarised in Table 5), the corresponding data for the total number of leukocytes were documented by Matsche and Gibbons (2012) and Matsche et al (2013), while Knowles et al (2006) presented a significantly higher total leukocyte count. Neutrophils dominated in the study of Matsche and Gibbons (2012) in most of the examined fish owing to the long-lasting stress.…”

“…Knowles et al (2006) encountered thrombocyte-like cells in the differential counts, but despite this, the lymphocytes dominated in the differential count. The results obtained from Matsche and Gibbons (2012) and Matsche et al (2013) reflected the haematological profiles of adult fish during spawning activity, while the data obtained from Knowles et al (2006) were based on immature cultured fish.…”

“…baerii in Fopp-Bayat et al (2013) and Rozynski et al (2015);A. ruthenus, A. baerii, A. gueldenstaedtii in Flajshans and Vajcova (2002); A. brevirostrum in Knowles et al (2006)], or obtained from wild caught fish [A. stellatus in Docan et al (2014); H. huso in Mazandarani et al (2015); A. persicus, A. stellatus in Pourgholam and Saeidi (2000); A. brevirostrum in Matsche and Gibbons (2012) and Matsche et al (2013)]. However, the sturgeons investigated were of a different age (juveniles, adults or unknown age of wild caught fishes), gender, ploidy level, number of samples, and from different environmental conditions.…”

“…The continuous blood analysis of red or white blood cell indicators rarely exceeded three months. Data for selected periods of the year (spring, autumn) were documented for A. stellatus (Docan et al 2014), A. brevirostrum (Matsche and Gibbons 2012;Matsche et al 2013) and A. persicus (Pourgholam and Saeidi 2000).…”

Indexing serum and mucous biochemical parameters of endangered Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis with implications for health assessment

“…This study establishes blood biochemical RIs for Chinese sturgeon and is an essential first step in the application of these parameters to Aramli et al, 2013;Asadi et al, 2006;Cassle et al, 2021;Di Marco et al, 2011;DiVincenti Jr. et al, 2013;Matsche et al, 2013;Matsche et al, 2014;Shahsavani et al, 2010;Shi et al, 2006). Compared to other sturgeons, there are fewer studies on Chinese sturgeon that can be directly compared to our study.…”