An investigation of The Anesthetic potential of Aqueous Bark Extract of Tephrosia vogelii by some Haematological indices of sedation of Heterobranchus longifilis Juveniles Val. (Pisces: 1840)

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the anaesthetic potential of the aqueous bark extract of Tephrosia vogelii through the haematological effects in sedation of Heterobranchus longifilis juveniles. The experimental fish were obtained from the wild and taken to the laboratory of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. They were acclimatized under laboratory condition for two weeks prior to the experiment. Ten (10) Heterobranchus longifilis of 115.25+ 25.00g average weight were selected randomly injected intramuscularly (IM) with the aqueous bark extract concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05and 0.06 g/l) with replicates. Control fish were injected with distilled water. The behavioural responses of the fish were observed.  For 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected and analysed for haematological variables. Values of WBC, RBC, Hb, MCH, and MCHC fell below controls but had no significant differences (P>0.05), while values of HCT and MCV increased with increasing concentration but no significant differences (P>0.05) indicating that the aqueous bark extract did not impact negatively on the internal environment of the Heterobranchus. This experiment shows that the aqueous bark extract of T. vogelii can be used as an anesthetic for fish at low concentrations.

Key words: Anesthetics; haematological indices; Heterobranchus  longifilis; Tephrosia vogelii