Abstract

Length-weight relationships, morpho-physiological index and blood biochemical parameters are frequently used to determine the health status of wild and cultured fish. Between December 2013 and July 2015, a total of 123 yellow snappers (L. argentiventris) were captured with gillnets in the Macapule Lagoon and blood samples were taken. All the blood biochemical parameter varied significantly among sampling seasons. The total proteins, triglycerides, and cholesterol values were significantly highs in December 2013 (cold season). We found significant differences intra and inter-correlations between morpho-physiological and blood biochemical parameters in bout seasons. The equation parameters (a & b) of the length-weight relationship in each of the seasons indicated that the growth of yellow snapper showed important variations over time between year 1 and year 2. Among the morpho-physiological index, only the Hepatosomatic Index (HIS) and Gastric Repletion Index (GRI) varied significantly among the seasons (P<0.01); and they were positively correlated with water temperature. In conclusion, the morpho-physiological and blood biochemical examinations determined for the first time for yellow snapper in Macapule Lagoon, showed a wide temporal variation and were related to environmental changes between seasons. This new data can be used as a reference to compare health conditions between wild and captive yellow snapper (L. argentiventris) and other fishes.

Keywords: Hematological variables; Biochemical variables; Warm water; Cold water; Environmental changes; Fish health

Abbreviations: pH: hydrogen Potential; Mg dL-1: Milligrams per deciliter; mL: Milliliters; g: Relative centrifugal force; log x+1: Logarithm of one to base ten; ANOVA: Variance Analysis; rs: Spearman’s correlation coefficient