Evaluation of Haematological and Biochemical Changes in Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Fed Ginger Additive Meal Diets

Clarias gariepinus adults were fed varying levels of ginger additive meal diets (0 mg/g, 25 mg/g, 50 mg/g, 75 mg/g and 100 mg/g), respectively, in order to evaluate their effects on the biochemical and haematological parameters of fish. Blood biochemical analysis was performed at the end of 84 days by taking the portion of the collected blood and was dispensed into non-heparinised tubes. There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in glucose, aspertate transferase, alanine transferase, and sodium concentrations respectively. The activity of potassium, creatinine and serum protein changed in a non-significant (P > 0.05) manner with increasing concentrations of additive diets compared to the control. Although no definite trend in the values of computed biochemical indices was observed. However, glucose, aspertate transferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, sodium, and potassium increased with varying additive inclusion concentration. Also, Glucose, ALT, AST, Urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium activities of all the fish, which have been fed ginger additive meal diets were significantly higher (p<0.05) in comparison to their respective control. Results also showed that there were increase in the blood parameters of Clarias gariepinus fed ginger additive meal diets compared to the control diet except in mean cell haematocrit (MCV) but were statistically different (p<0.05). Highest Packed cell volume (PCV) of 31.00% were recorded in diet (GD3), White Blood Cell (WBC), 8.00 x 103 in GD2, and red blood cell (RBC) 8.70 x 106; while highest Haemoglobin (Hb), 11.00 g/dl were recorded in fish fed diet GD3. All blood parameters obtained were between the range of recommended fish blood. It is concluded that using ginger as additive feed on Clarias gariepinus showed a slight increase in the haematological parameters compared with the control diet (GD1) except in MCV but it has no negative effect on the health status of the studied fish.