Blood and Biometric Data on an Established Salmo trutta macrostigma (Dumeril, 1858) Population in an Italian Stream: Preliminary Results

The aim of this study was to obtain a basic knowledge of some blood haematological and biochemical characteristics of Salmo trutta macrostigma (S. t. macrostigma) captured in Anapo river, Italy. White blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), haematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin concentration (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), thrombocyte count (TC), triglycerides, total cholesterol, urea, creatinine, glucose and lactate were measured in blood sample from 20 adult fish (8 males and 12 females). The fork length and total weight of the individuals varied from 19.00 to 29.40 cm and from 93.00 to 343.00 g, respectively , while condition factor varied from 0.89 to 1.55 g cm-1. The obtained results, showed no significant difference of biometric data between males and females. About haematological and biochemical parameters Unpaired t-Test Student between females and males of the 20 S. t. macrostigma showed statistically significant differences only for TC (P<0.001) which value was lower in females respect to males. The present study represent a preliminary investigation related to a specific seasonal period as it is known that fish metabolism is influenced by water temperature, water oxygen concentration and intensity and length of sunshine. Thus our results are useful to obtain a basic knowledge for S. t. macrostigma in order to monitor the health status of this fish species that today appears to be at risk of extinction.