Some Haematological Changes of Zander (Sander lucioperca) In Relation to Age and Its Relationship with Parasitic Infection

The blood parameters of Sander (S.) lucioperca were investigated among different age classes (2, 3, 4 and 5 year old). Also, alterations of haematological parameters in relation to parasitic infection were tested. The red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemogbobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), lymphocyte, neutrophil, monocyte and myelocyte were measured. No haematological parameters showed significant differences (P > 0.05) among age classes. The values of Ht, Hb, neutrophil and monocyte were higher in 4 year compared to other ages. The results showed that MCH, lymphocyte andmyelocyte increased with the age. Significant differences were detected for the lymphocytes and neutrophils (infested versus non-infested by Eustrongylides excises and Dactylogyrus sp) respectively. No differences were found with regard to other haematological parameters of infested fish. Results from this study suggest that age has some degree of influence on the blood parameters of S. lucioperca.