Hematological Assessment in Aquatic Organisms
Summary
Haematological assessment in aquatic organisms involves the measurement and interpretation of blood parameters to evaluate physiological status, health, and responses to environmental or husbandry challenges. Core metrics include red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration, which together reflect oxygen-transport capacity and potential anaemia. White blood cell profiles and thrombocyte numbers provide insight into immune function and clotting processes. Advances in automated analysers, flow cytometry and omics technologies have broadened the range of detectable markers, enabling simultaneous evaluation of endocrine, metabolic and immunological responses. Establishing species-specific reference ranges remains essential, as values can vary with age, sex, season and habitat. Applications span aquaculture health management, ecotoxicological monitoring and conservation of wild populations, where blood analyses serve as non-lethal indicators of stress, disease and environmental quality.
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Hematological Assessment in Aquatic Organisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in hematological assessment in aquatic organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hematocrit (Hct): Proportion of blood volume occupied by red blood cells, expressed as a percentage.
Haemoglobin concentration (Hb): Amount of oxygen-carrying pigment in blood, indicating oxygen transport capacity.
Red blood cell count (RBC): Number of erythrocytes per unit volume, reflecting oxygen delivery potential.
White blood cell count (WBC): Number of leukocytes per unit volume, indicating immune competence.
Thrombocyte: Nucleated blood cell involved in clotting and immune defence in fish.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): Average volume of individual red blood cells, useful for diagnosing anaemia.
References
- Dietary Fruit By-Products Improve the Physiological Status of Nile Tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) and the Quality of Their Meat. Antioxidants (2023).
- Effects of aquatic heavy metal intoxication on the level of hematocrit and hemoglobin in fishes: A review. Frontiers in Environmental Science (2022).
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