~ 489 ~ International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2020; 8(3): 489-493 E-ISSN: 2347-5129 P-ISSN: 2394-0506 (ICV-Poland) Impact Value: 5.62 (GIF) Impact Factor: 0.549 IJFAS 2020; 8(3): 489-493 © 2020 IJFAS www.fisheriesjournal.com Received: 25-03-2020 Accepted: 27-04-2020 Oluwalola OI Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria Fagbenro OA Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria Adebayo OT Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Oluwalola OI CSIR-Water Research Institute, Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDEC) P.O. Box AB, 139 Akosombo, Ghana Haematological and serum biochemical profiles of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus from different culture enclosures Oluwalola OI, Fagbenro OA and Adebayo OT Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus from different culture enclosures (plastic tank, sandcrete tank and earthen pond), at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Haematological parameters such as red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and the serum biochemical parameters like protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were determined within the three culture enclosures using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence level, comparisons among means were separated by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at p<0.05. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in WBC, PCV, Hb, RBC, MCH and MCHC between O. niloticus fingerlings reared in plastic, sandcrete tanks and earthen pond. Fish reared in plastic tank had the highest values of PCV, Hb and RBC (38.0, 12.6 and 4.22), while fish reared in earthen pond had the lowest values of PCV, Hb and RBC (24.3, 7.83 and 2.68). The white blood cell and mean corpuscular volume of O. niloticus reared in earthen pond (9.10, 90.7) was higher than the one reared in sandcrete tank (8.57, 90.1) and plastic tank (8.83, 90.6). Also, the result of the blood chemistry showed significant difference (p<0.05) in protein and cholesterol values of O. niloticus from the three culture enclosures. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in ALT, glucose and albumin from the three culture enclosures. O. niloticus from earthen pond had the highest protein value of 9.58, while sandcrete and plastic tank had the lowest values that are similar to each other (7.28 and 7.26). However O. niloticus from earthen pond had the lowest cholesterol value of 2.01 while sandcrete and plastic tank had 2.12 and 2.15 respectively. This study thus, provides baseline information on the physiological status of O. niloticus from different culture enclosures (plastic, sandcrete tanks and earthen pond). Keywords: Haematology, serum biochemical, culture enclosures, Oreochromis niloticus 1. Introduction The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Family Cichlidae) has been widely cultured due to its culture potentials, because it has high reproductive and growth rates, relatively disease free, scaly and hardy in nature [1] . It has been successfully farmed under a wide range of environmental conditions and is an important aquaculture fish species in many parts of the world, particularly in tropical and sub-tropical countries [2, 3] . It is usually a native fish species of high commercial value in lakes and rivers where they are found. The good health status of fish is the main element for their welfare, thus it is of great significant [4] . Blood parameters analyses have proven to be valuable tools in the development of aquaculture system, which helps to analyze the health status of farmed and uncultured fish as these indices provide reliable information on possible exposure to mutagens, metabolic disorders, deficiencies and chronic stress status before clinical symptoms appears [5] . [6] opined that haematological profile reflects the physiological responsiveness of the animals to its internal and external environment. Therefore, any change in the external environment can cause a dysfunction of blood and as such have severe effects on the physiological activities such as resistance to disease, metabolism, breeding performance and health condition of the entire body. In general, blood profile gives important information on fish nutritional, physiological and health conditions.