Nutritive Potentials of Pawpaw (Carica Papaya) Seed Meal as Additive on the Haematological Profile of Catfish Fingerlings

The aim of this research was to investigate the haematological profile of catfish C. gariepinus fingerlings, fed with varying of diets levels (0 g/kg, 20 g/kg, 40 g/kg, 60 g/kg and 80 g/kg) for 6 weeks. The findings revealed significant (P<0.05) differences in Packed Cell Volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and the Red Blood Count (RBCs). Fish fed diet 2 possessed a higher PCV, MCHC and Hb compared to those fed diet 1 that was least in PCV and Hb, while diet 5 had the least in MCHC. The MCV and MCH were higher in fish fed diet 4 and diet 3 respectively, compared to samples fed diet 1 which was least. Inclusively, there was a momentous increase in leukocytes count (WBCs) in samples given varying levels of pawpaw seed powder meal (P<0.05) which was not noticed in control. The obtained blood characteristics of sampled catfish could be used comparatively to ascertain the wellbeing of fish on the consumption of pawpaw seed meal. The examination of the blood profile could also serve as easy identification keys to malnutrition, diseases and stress in cultured fish.