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Haematology, morphology and blood cells characteristics of male and female Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens)

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to obtain baseline data on blood cell size, morphology and haematological parameters in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) since there is limited information in the published literature. Blood samples from the caudal vein of apparently healthy Siamese fighting fish (male: n = 40 and female: n = 36) were collected. Haematological values of the blood samples were determined using standard techniques. The morphological features of blood cells were described according to observations made by light microscopy. The various types of blood cells measurement were carried out with the help of a stage and an ocular micrometre at a magnification of ×1,000. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes and four types of leucocytes: lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils and eosinophils, were distinguished and characterised. The average size of the erythrocyte cell and nucleus was 97.33 and 16.28 μm2, respectively. Results showed a positive correlation between erythrocyte size and nucleus size for Siamese fighting fish (r = 0.470, p < 0.01). We also found sex-dependent differences for total white blood cell count, lymphocytes and heterophils in Siamese fighting fish (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed that differences in other haematological parameters and blood cell morphology, between male and female fish were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out in University Aquaculture Laboratory, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran. We express our thanks to this centre's experts and fisheries group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

    Somayeh Pourali Motlagh, Asad Mohammadi Zarejabad, Rasol Ghorbani Nasrabadi & Masoud Molaee

  2. Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

    Ehsan Ahmadifar

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  1. Somayeh Pourali Motlagh
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  2. Asad Mohammadi Zarejabad
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  3. Rasol Ghorbani Nasrabadi
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Correspondence to Somayeh Pourali Motlagh.

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Motlagh, S.P., Zarejabad, A.M., Nasrabadi, R.G. et al. Haematology, morphology and blood cells characteristics of male and female Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Comp Clin Pathol 21, 15–21 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-010-1058-6

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