title: Hematology and plasma chemistry reference intervals for cultured tilapia (Oreochromis hybrid).
abstract: Tilapia are a commonly aquacultured fish yet little is known about their normal physiology and response to disease. In this study we determined the results of complete hematologic (n=40) and plasma biochemical profiles (n=63) in production tilapia (Oreochromis hybrids). The fish were raised in recirculating systems with a high stocking density (120 g/L), and were in the middle of a 15-month production cycle. Blood was analyzed using standard techniques, and reference intervals were determined using nonparametric methods. Non-production tilapia (n=15) from low-density tanks (4 g/L) also were sampled; the clinical chemistry results were compared to reference intervals from the fish raised in high-density tanks. Differences were noted in plasma protein, calcium and phosphorus concentrations, such that reference intervals for high-density production tilapia were not applicable to fish raised under different environmental and management conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. thrubec@vt.edu
authors.forename: Terry C.
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hrubec
authors.forename: Jenifer L.
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: Stephen A.
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Smith