Hematological characteristics of Zayandehrood chub, Petroleuciscus esfahani from Zayandehrood River

Petroleuciscus esfahani، is an important fish species which shows very wide distribution in the Zayandehrood River. As there was no scientific report regarding hematological characteristics of this species، therefore in this study، some major hematological indices of this fish from different stations of the river were analyzed. Totally، 127 fish were caught from 4 stations along the river including Cheshmeh dimeh، Khersonak، Chamgordan and Pol-e-Safaiyeh and blood was collected from their caudal vein using heparinised syringe. Then some routine hematological indices were measured using standard methods. The mean red blood cell counts، hematocrite and hemoglobin were in the range of 3. 02-3. 4×106 cell. mm-3، 28-34. 68 % and 9. 14-11. 69 g. dl-1 respectively without any significant differences among stations (P>0. 05). However، a significant elevation in number of white blood cell (WBC) counts in Chamgordan and Pol-e-Safaiyeh (down-stream) as well as significant changes in differential WBC (DWBC) counts and secondary hematological indices specially in Chamgordan station in comparison to other station were observed (P<0. 05). The differences in some blood characteristics such as WBC and DWBC may be reflecting the existence of some environmental pollution such as heavy metals in Chamgordan station.