Hematological characteristics of Delminichthys ghetaldii (Steindachner 1882) inhabiting the karst region of eastern Herzegovina

Hematological parameters are a valuable means of estimating the physiological status of fish and, indirectly, the state of their habitat. In order to use blood parameters as biomarkers, it is necessary to know their normal values and the referential intervals for a species. Such investigations are especially valuable in endemic and endangered fish species. In this study, parameters of erythrocyte lineage of Delminichthys ghetaldii (Steindachner 1882), an endemic species inhabiting the karst waters of eastern Herzegovina, were investigated. Fish were caught by nets in the region of Fatničko polje (Fatnica field) after the water outflow in March 2013, blood was taken by heart puncture and erythrocyte parameters were determined. Their mean values were as follows: the number of erythrocyte (RBC) = 1.474 x 1012/l; hemoglobin concentration (Hb) = 72.50 g/l; packed cell volume (PCV) = 0.398 l/l; mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 271.19 fl; mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) = 49.36 pg, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) = 193.16 g/l eryt. Body mass and morphometric features were also estimated and their mean values were: body mass = 25.49 g, total and standard body length = 14.13 cm and 11.98 cm, respectively, Fulton coefficient = 1.45. For the values of all parameters, the normality of distribution was tested, as well as differences between mean values of males and females. Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analyses between mass, morphometric and hematological parameters have shown that erythrocyte parameters may influence body mass and of morphometric characteristics in this species