HEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CURIMBATÁ, Prochilodus scrofa STEINDACHNER, 1881 (OSTEICHTHYES, CHARACIFORMES, PROCHILODANTIDAE), STOCKED IN EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

José Tavares RANZANI-PAIVA, MariaMaria GODINHO, Heloisa

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hematological characteristics of the Brazilian freshwater fish "curimbata", Prochilodus scrofa. The animals were obtained by hormone-induced reproduction (using Pregnyl-HCG) and bred in stocking tanks with two animals per square meter. Samp1es were taken when specimens reached the ages of: 3 months; 1 year and 4 months; 2 years and 2 years and 3 months. Blood collected from the caudal artery was used to determine: hemoglobin concentration (g/100 ml), number of erythrocytes (106/mm3), hematocrit (%), and differential leukocyte count. The following indices were calculated: MCV (mean corpuscular volume), MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) and CMHC (concentration of mean corpuscular hemoglobin).