Effects of short term fasting and refeeding on some hematological and immune parameters in Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874) fingerlings

This study investigated the effects of short-term fasting and re-feeding on hematological and immunological parameters of Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874) fingerlings. After 2 weeks of adaptation, 360 fish with an average initial body weight of 6.13±0.40g were distributed in nine 300-L circular fiberglass tanks provided with aeration system following a completely randomized design. The fish were divided in 3 experimental groups (each in triplicate) that included 4, 8 and 16 days of fasting. After food deprivation periods, fish in all the experimental groups were fed to satiation two times a day for a period of 32 days. Blood samples were collected from 15 fish in each treatment (5 fish from each replicate) at the initial and the end of fasting and also re-feeding periods. Blood samples were collected from the caudal vasculature vein using heparinized syringes. Results showed that the numbers of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly lower (P<0.05) in 16days starved group than the control group. Experimental fish showed no significant change (P>0.05) in the number of white blood cells, though their number increased significantly after refeeding period (P<0.05). Lysozyme and total immunoglobulins of the experimental fish were not affected by fasting and refeeding (P>0.05). The results of the study showed that food deprivation up to 16 days and subsequent refeeding did not have a significant effect on hematologic and immune indices in M. sharpeyi fingerlings.