HEMATOLOGICAL RECOVERY IN SPARUS-AURATA AFTER BLEEDING - A TIME-COURSE STUDY

To determine the hematological recovery after blood loss in gilthead s ea bream juveniles, an experimental anemia was induced by caudal blood extraction. Seventy fish were used for experimental hemorrhage and an other 35 were used as controls. Blood samples were taken after 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 days in both control and anemic groups. After blee ding, besides a reduction in the direct hematic constants, a peak in t he mean cell volume value, together with a decrease in mean cell hemog lobin concentration after bleeding, suggested erythrocyte swelling. Th e increase in MCH suggested the occurrence of hyperchromic erythrocyte s. Recovery of RBC number started between 2 and 4 days after bleeding and seemed to be related to erythroblast release to circulation. Total recovery was completed after 8 days of bleeding. The recovery pattern s for hematological parameters of sea bream are discussed in relation to applied work on this species.