INDUCTION OF MICROCYTIC-HYPOCHROMIC ANAEMIA IN Clarias gariepinus (BURCHELL,1822)EXPOSED TO SUB-ETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF 1,1-DIMETHYL 4,4-BIPIRIDILLIUM DICHLORIDE (PARAQUAT) UNDER LABORATORY CONDIITIONS

Abstract

Microcytic-hypochromic anaemia was induced in Clarias garepinus (BUrchell 1822) at intervals of 1,7 and 14 days.Experimental fish were exposed to test water separately with sub-ethal concentrations of paraquat of 0,0.06, 0.07, 0.09 and 0.12mg/L. 14 days' exposure to the sub-lethal concentrations of the toxicant resulted in microcytic-hypochromic anaemia in the exposed fish. Blood indices attributable to microcytic-hypochromic anaemia was observed with a significant (p<0.05) decrease in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cells, Mean corpuscular volume (MVC), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, Neutrophils and eosinophil compared with the fish in the control test.