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<br />792
<br />
<br />COPEIA, 1984, NO.3
<br />
<br />classified as small lymphocytes, but a few large
<br />lymphocytes were also seen. Small lymphocytes
<br />usually had very little cytoplasm and ranged from
<br />5 to 7 !lm in diameter, whereas large lympho-
<br />cytes showed a definite band of basophilic cy-
<br />toplasm surrounding the nucleus, and were 9-
<br />10 !lm in diameter.
<br />Thrombocytes of each species were elongat-
<br />ed to circular, as described by Woodward et a!.
<br />(1981). When spindle-shaped, as most were, the
<br />cells sometimes appeared curled or folded.
<br />When round, they were difficult to distinguish
<br />from small lymphocytes, a problem also en-
<br />countered by other authors (Ellis, 1977). Mea-
<br />surements were made only on spindle-shaped
<br />cells (Table 2).
<br />I evaluated transportation stress in 40 (20
<br />male, 20 female) X. texanus, using blood chlo-
<br />ride and glucose levels. Because sexes reacted
<br />similarly to transportation (ANOV A, P > 0.1),
<br />data for males and females were pooled. Blood
<br />glucose increased from 52 :t 3.6 mg/lOO ml
<br />(x :t 95% confidence interval) at Willow Beach
<br />to 141 :t 15.3 mg/100 ml after hauling to Utah
<br />Water Laboratory. Blood chloride decreased
<br />significantly (t-test, P < 0.01) from 108 :t 2.5
<br />mEq/1 at Willow Beach to 99 :t 1.8 mEq/1 after
<br />hauling. Such changes are typical secondary ef-
<br />fects of stress in fish (Mazeaud et a!., 1977). No
<br />mortalities were observed either during the trip
<br />or during a one-week, post-hauling period. The
<br />decrease in blood chloride suggests that sodium
<br />chloride might be used to advantage during
<br />transport to combat hypochloremia. Many stud-
<br />ies have shown that the use of sodium chloride
<br />in hauling tanks can effectively reduce osmo-
<br />regulatory stress (Hattingh et a!., 1975).
<br />These data should not be considered as the
<br />normal hematological profile for these species,
<br />but merely as a basis for comparison with future
<br />work. However, because most endangered fish
<br />will be reared only to the fingerling stage before
<br />stocking, the data for immature fish may be
<br />more useful as baseline indicators of health than
<br />if variables such as sex, maturity and season
<br />were involved.
<br />Data from this study may be useful to cultur-
<br />ists in assessing the effects of disease, diet and
<br />water quality (Blaxhall, 1972). For example, el-
<br />evated total protein and blood chloride may
<br />indicate impaired water balance due to osmo-
<br />regulatory dysfunction. Decreased hematocrit
<br />and hemoglobin may indicate diet-induced ane-
<br />mias. Leukopenia and hypoglycemia may indi-
<br />cate generalized stress. Many clinical tests for
<br />
<br />fish hematology are now available that do not
<br />require highly specialized analytical equipment
<br />or laboratories (Wedemeyer and Yasutake,
<br />1977).
<br />
<br />Acknowledgments. - I thank Jeffrey W. Kehoe for
<br />aid with blood analysis, Richard Pimentel for
<br />maintaining healthy fish, and Ross V. Bulkley
<br />for conceptual input. The US Fish and Wildlife
<br />Service provided funding to the Utah Coop-
<br />erative Fishery Research Unit which is also sup-
<br />ported by the Utah Division of Wildlife Re-
<br />sources and Utah State University.
<br />
<br />LITERATURE CITED
<br />
<br />BLAXHALL, R. C. 1972. The hematological assess-
<br />ment of the health of freshwater fish: A review of
<br />selected literature.]. Fish. BioI. 4:593-604.
<br />CATTON, W. T. 1951. Blood cell formation in certain
<br />teleost fishes. Blood 6:39-60.
<br />CHLEBECK, A., AND G. L. PHILLIPS. 1969. Hemato-
<br />logical study of two buffalo fishes, Ictiobus cyprinellus
<br />and I. bubalus (catostomidae).]. Fish. Res. Bd. Can-
<br />ada 26:2881-2886.
<br />ELLIS, A. E. 1977. The leucocytes of fish: a review.
<br />]. Fish BioI. 11:453-491.
<br />GRIZZLE,]. M., AND W. A. ROGERS. 1979. Anatomy
<br />and histology of the channel catfish. Alabama Agric.
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<br />HATTINGH,]., F. LERoux FOURIE AND]. VAN VUREN.
<br />1975. The transport offreshwater fish.]. Fish BioI.
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<br />HICKNEV, C. R. 1982. Comparative hematology of
<br />wild and captive cunners. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc.
<br />III :242-249.
<br />KEHOE,]. W., AND D. R. BERRY. 1982. Comparison
<br />oftwo analytical techniques for determining changes
<br />in teleost hemoglobin and total protein levels. Trans.
<br />Bonneville Chapt. Amer. Fish. Soc. 1982:57-67.
<br />LARSSON, A., M. ]OHANSSON-SjOBECK AND R. FANGE.
<br />1976. Comparative study of some haemotological
<br />and biochemical blood parameters in fishes from
<br />the Skagerrak.]. Fish BioI. 9:425-440.
<br />LESTER, R., AND B. DANIELS. 1976. The eosinophilic
<br />cell of the white sucker Catostomus commersoni. ].
<br />Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 33:139-144.
<br />MAZEAUD, M., F. MAZEAUD AND E. M. DONALDSON.
<br />1977. Primary and secondary effects of stress in
<br />fish: some new data with a general review. Trans.
<br />Amer. Fish. Soc. 106:201-212.
<br />PIMENTEL, R., AND R. V. BULKLEY. 1983. Concen-
<br />trations of total dissolved solids preferred or avoid-
<br />ed by endangered Colorado River fishes. Ibid. 112:
<br />595-600.
<br />SATCHELL, G.]. 1971. Circulation in fishes. Cam-
<br />bridge Monogr. Exp. BioI. 18. Cambridge Univ.
<br />Press, London, England.
<br />WEDEMEYER, G. A., AND W. T. YASUTAKE. 1977.
<br />
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