CHANGES IN HEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF SCHIZOTHORAX RICHARDSONII (GRAY 1832)INFECTED WITH SAPROLEGNIASIS IN FARMED CONDITION.

Snow trout (Schizothoraxrichardsonii) is an important indigenous coldwater fish having potential for its cultivation in Indian Himalayan region. Hematology provides an index of physiological status of fish and its study is important for health status and wellness of the growing fish. Hematology is a tool for diagnosis of diseased fish. An attempt has been made to explore the hematological parameters of snow trout infected with Saprolegniasppand comparison of these parameters with healthy fish. Blood parameters like Hemoglobin (Hb), Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC) and haematocrit (Hct) were observed for the healthy as well as infected fish. TEC and Hct increased significantly but there was significant decrease in TLC in the infected fish in the later stages of infection. The data was analysed by one-way ANOVA which reflected significant values of hematological parameters of Schizothoraxrichardsoniithatare significantly different from the healthy fish due to the infection of saprolegnia spp. In the present investigation, alterations in important hematological parameters due to fungal infection may be used as diagnostic tool for the fungal infected snow trout. Further, this information would be helpful for the remedy and therapeutic use of drugs against fungal infection. Study may be referred for the further investigation in this line.