EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH MANGIFERA INDICA L. (MANGO) KERNEL ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF CLARIAS GARIEPINUS (AFRICAN CATFISH) FINGERLINGS

Abstract

Different parts of Mangifera indica have been reported to possess antimicrobial, non-specific immunostimulant activity, and antioxidant effects which enhance fish performance and modulate their immunity against microbes. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effects of M. indica kernel on some haematological parameters of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings. A total of 240 fingerlings randomly divided into four groups of 60 each were used in the study. Fish in groups A, B, C and D were fed diet containing 0, 1, 5 and 10 g/kg of mango kernel powder, respectively for 42 days. Blood samples were collected from 12 fish in each group at 20 and 40 days post-treatment, and some haematological parameters of the fish were determined using standard laboratory procedures. One-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s Post-hoc was used to analyse the data. The total leukocyte counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fish treated with mango kernel at 10 g/kg of feed 40 days post-treatment. Besides, the group that was fed the diet at 10 g/kg of feed for 40 days had higher neutrophil counts than the groups that were fed the diets at lower inclusion levels as well as the control group. Therefore, M. indica kernel can be used as feed supplement at the inclusion levels of 10 g/kg of feed in order to augment both the total and differential leukocyte counts of African catfish