Abstract:
Purpose: Nile tilapia is known to have a high prolifi c rate of reproduction which impacts the native
aquatic bio-diversity. This phenomena and various methods of curtailing have been well studied in
few selected places around the world. Hence, this research aims to evaluate the eff ect of castor oil on
haematological parameters of O. niloticus, at sub-lethal doses.
Research Method: Sixteen samples of ready to spawn O. niloticus weighing 6.5-8.5g were used for the
experiment and castor oil was extracted from the seeds through Soxhlet extraction. Three diff erent doses
of castor oil (R. communis) were administered to determine the level of eff ect of castor oil on the blood
parameters.
Findings: Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, total white blood
cell (TWBC) count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and
mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined using standard methods. MCV,
MCH, MCHC, and WBC did not vary signifi cantly (P>0.05). PCV were all within the normal range
(40.33-21.00%). Hb values were low and ranged from 6.97 – 13.43 g/dl, and TWBC ranged from 3.90
– 6.70 1012/l.
Value: This research revealed castor oil to signifi cantly alter some parameters of O. niloticus and has
inverse relationship between WBC and RBC counts of O. niloticus.
