Hematology and Blood Chemistry of Juveniles Rubio (Salminus affinis Pisces: Characidae) Captured in the River Sinú

Rubio Salminus affinis is distributed in Colombia and Ecuador rivers. To develop new technologies of fishery production, hematological and blood chemistry of 10 juvenile Rubios captured in Sinú river, apparently healthy were examined (117.5+38.6 g of weight and 17.6+3.3 cm of total length). Fishes were calmed during five minutes in water at 18 °C and 2 mL of blood samples were taken in EDTA (Vacuette®). The chemistry was determined using ByoSystems INC ( Spain ), reagents and blood count were developed with traditional techniques with the exception of total leukocyte and thrombocyte for which the reagent of Natt and Herricks was used. The blood smears were dyed with Wright and cellular dimensions were determined. The total erythrocytes were of 2.2+0.4x106/mm3, thrombocytes 25.4+4.4x103/mm3 and leukocytes were estimated in 6.1+2.0x103/mm3. The differential count of leukocytes were of 68.8+5.9% Lymphocytes, 28.5+5.2% neutrophils, 2.1+0.9% monocytes, 0.4+1.3% basophils and 0.2+0.4% eosinophils. The hemoglobin in 12.53+2.2 g/dL, and the hematocrit 36.2%. The erythrocyte index: Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 163.8+22.6 fL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 35.0+7.5 g/dL and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) 58.5+19.7 pg. Total proteins were 3.8+5.9 g/dL, glucose 128.9+21.9 mg/dL, cholesterol 277.8+92.7 mg/dL, triglycerides 192.0+109.1 mg/dL and albumin 2.0+0.3 g/dL. The results suggest that the hematological characteristics of Rubio are in range for neotropical apparently healthy fishes.