CELLULAR AND HUMORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PENAEUS-MONODON (FABRICIUS, 1798) HEMOLYMPH

To study the usefulness of haemolymph for shrimp health assessment cha racteristics of both the cellular and humoral composition of growing j uvenile Penaeus monodon (n = 16) were determined. Haemolymph was obtai ned by a puncture of the ventral part of the haemocoel. Using routine staining methods five different cell types could be distinguished by l ight microscopy. Electron microscopy studies revealed granulocytes, se migranulocytes and hyalinocytes. Mean total haemocyte count was 50.9 x 10(6) cells/ml whereas mean haemolymph plasma protein content was 79. 9 g/l consisting of one major and one or two minor fractions. It was c oncluded that haemolymph characterisation can be a useful tool for hea lth estimation of P. monodon, but standardisation of the techniques is needed.