ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN THE HEMATOLOGICAL PROFILE OF JUVENILE CLARIAS GARIEPINUS TREATED WITH Blighia sapida, ACKEE SEED POWDER

The acute haematological changes of Blighia sapida on Clarias gariepinus juveniles was investigated in a static bioassay to determine the Median Lethal concentrations (LC50) at 96 hours of exposure. Six graded concentrations (0 mg/l, 30, 31.7, 33, 35mg/l and 36.7mg/l) of B. sapida seed powder was introduced to the water of C. gariepinus juveniles in plastic bowls of 30litres. The result obtained revealed the 96hours LC50 values to be 53.33mg/l with an 50% confidence interval between the lower and higher limits of 53.33 and 5.3mg/l. Fish exposed to acute toxicity test exhibited several abnormal behaviours, including air gulping, erratic swimming, discolouration, loss of reflex and molting. Fish were observed motionless at the bottom of the bowl just before death. The oxygen consumption by juveniles decreased with increased concentrations of B. sapida seed powder. The result for haematological showed significant decrease in packed cell volume(PCV) (19.00±1.41 - 16.00±1.41), the red blood cell counts (RBC) (2.95±2.05 - 1.05±0.35), haemoglobin (Hbg) (6.33±0.47 - 5.50±1.18g/dl) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were not significantly different when compared with the control. White blood cell counts (WBC) initially decreased (3.15±0.35- 2.60±1.13) but significantly increased in Treatment 4(3.15+0.35- 3.20+0.57) where highest mortality was observed as the concentrations of B. sapida seed powder increases. The result of this research shows that B. sapida seed powder has negative effects on C. gariepinus. Based on these findings, it is concluded that B.sapida seed powder causes significant alterations in the haematological profile of C. gariepinus juveniles and therefore be avoided in close proximity to aquatic environment.