HAEMATOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON CLARIAS BATRACHUS SUBJECTED TO A FLAVOBACTERIAL INFECTION

During one year period, (Sep. 2001 to Oct. 2002) 2100 fish Clarias isolates were examined thoroughly for being infected with bacterial fish pathogens. Different were obtained from symptomatic fish and identified as Flavobacteria and tested for their pathogenisity. This organism produced the symptoms of columnaris disease in artificially infected fish which were similar to that of naturally infected fish. Besides the microbiological examinations challenged fishes were also considered for haematological studies. Blood samples were obtained from the lateral line by inserting a heparinized microsyringe to the fishes of same age, length and weight groups. It was found that there were highly significant differences in TLC, DLC, TEC, Hb% and PCV of artificially infected fish.