Ascorbic Acid Mediated Amelioration of Bridelia micrantha Induced Alterations in Haematological, Histological and Proximate Composition of the Carcass of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

Acute and sub-acute exposure of piscicidal plant Bridelia micrantha (BM) during fishing of Sharptooth Catfish Clarias gariepinus juvenile causes alterations in haematological, histological and the carcass analysis. The result of water quality shows the normal value for fish culture in the tropics, the DO2 level of the water varies slightly such that the T1 , T2 , T3, T5and T0 were in the normal range, conductivity followed by T2 whereas T1 had the least value for conductivity, which the mean differences were statistically not significant (p>0.05) among the individual treatments. There was severe alterations in haematology, of Clarias gariepinus exposed to Brandelia micrantha, at 0.00, 0.042, 0.084, 0.126, 0.168 and 0.21mg/l during 60days of exposure periods, blood analysis show a reduction in white blood cell (mg/l)), Haemoglobin, Red blood cell (mg/l) Haemoglobin (g/dl), Lymphocytes (mg/l), Mean cell volume (fl), Mean cell concentration, tissue analysis indicated an alterations in the gill, liver and kidney while tissue analysis reveals severe degeneration of the renal tissue with severe intra renal necrosis (TN) and inflammatory cell aggregate (IC) with tubular atrophy (TA) in some areas and carcass analysis show severe reduction in Moisture (M), Crude Protein (CP) (Mg/l), Crude Lipid (CL), Ash, Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE), and Energy (kcal/100g). The recovery of C. gariepinus from Bridelia micrantha (BM) was evaluated by exposing C. gariepinus to a 60-days depuration, on ascorbic acid (AA) supplemented diet at concentrations of 0.00, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125ml/l. After 60-days depuration some of the lesions in histological, haematological and proximate composition of the carcass attained different stages of recovery as compared to the control.