Haematological characteristics of the Bloody cockle <i>anadara senilis</i> (L.) from Andoni flats, Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Abstract

Haematological characteristics of Anadara senilis was investigated. A total of two hundred and forty (240) were sampled from Andoni flats during low tide. They were immediately transferred to the laboratory, where they were sorted and grouped into four different sizes. Group one comprised of (mean length 2.54 cm ± 2.42 and mean weight of 8.37g ± 2.44); size group two has (mean length 3.84 cm ± 0.42 and mean weight 21.42) while group three has (5.76cm ± 0.38 and mean weight of 36.17g ± 3.55) and group four has mean length (7.89 cm ± 0.32; mean weight of 57.41 g ± 6.81). Blood was then taken from the bivalves and were later analysed in the laboratory. The mean values of haematological profiles recorded were (mean ± S.D), haemoglobin (Hb) 4.08 ± 1.88g dl-1; Packed Cell Volume (PCV) 10.98 ± 6.79 %; Red Blood Cells (RBC) 1.97 ± 0.68 x 1012 cells l-1; White Blood Cells (WBC) 3.76 ± 1.51 x 109 cells L-1 Platelets (PLT) 75.36 ± 88.36%; Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) 20.06 ± 3.98pg; Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) 50.64 ± 19.30Fl; Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCHC) 43.79 ± 13.71 gdl-1; Oxygen Carrying Capacity (OCC) 6.11 ± 2.83 vol. %. The highest range of the parameters was recorded in platelets, while the lowest was observed in RBC. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the four size groups in all the parameters studied. It appeared from the trials that the quantity and quality of the blood tends to increase with size.

Key words: Haematology, Bloody cockle, size, Andoni flats, Niger Delta.