EFFECTS OF AMMONIA AND NITRATE CONCENTRATION ON HEMATOLOGIC AND SERUMBIOCHEMICAL PROFILES OF HYBRID STRIPED BASS (MORONE-CHRYSOPS X MORONE-SAXATILIS)

Objective-To investigate the effects of poor water quality on hematolo gic and biochemical analytes in hybrid striped bass. Animals-Hybrid st riped bass (reciprocal cross: female Morone chrysops x male M saxatili s) maintained in 2,000-L tanks with undergravel filters. Procedure-Fis h were acclimated to high ammonia (0.15 mg/L) and nitrate (200 mg/L) c oncentrations for 6 weeks prior to sample collection. Hematologic and biochemical profiles were determined for these fish and for fish kept under normal conditions (control). Comparisons were made among the 3 w ater qualities and with reference intervals determined previously. Res ults-Significant differences in hematologic and biochemical analytes w ere observed between fish in the various groups; however, most of the values were within established reference intervals. All values from fi sh in the high ammonia concentration tank were either within the refer ence interval or not significantly different from control values. Fish from the high nitrate concentration tank had higher serum creatinine values and lower chloride values than did control fish, and both analy tes were substantially outside the reference intervals. Conclusion-Hig h ammonia concentration of 0.15 mg/L did not affect any of the blood a nalytes measured. The hypercreatininemia and hypochloremia observed in fish from the 200 mg of nitrate/ml tank were considered to be patholo gic changes associated with the high nitrate concentration. Clinical R elevance-Determining the effects of water quality on hematologic and b iochemical values helps to develop clinical pathology as a diagnostic tool in fish.