Asian Hematology Research Journal

Behavioural and haematological changes were observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected clarias gariepinus before and after exposure to carica papaya root extracts via immersion. One hundred and twenty (120) c.garipienus of mean weight 120g ± 13g were intramuscularly injected with 1.0ml of P. aeruginosa (4.1x10⁴cfu), and observed for diseases present/signs. Blood samples were collected before and after disease presence/signs. The infected fish were distributed into four groups in triplicate and exposed to 0.0ml, 1.0ml, 2.0ml and 3.0ml of aqueous carica papaya root extracts for a period of seven (7) days, while behavioural changes such as: air gasping, erratic swimming, discoloration, serious wounds, etc were observed from the day of infection to day 7 of treatment. Blood samples were again collected at days 2,5 and 7 of treatment. The haematological analysis of all the blood samples was performed in the laboratory to ascertain the therapecutic effect of the carica papaya root extract on the infected fish. The result indicated serious behavioural changes in fish exposed to 0.0ml extracts (untreated group) compared to the fish exposed to the various concentrations of the carica papaya root extract (treated group). The results from the haematological parameters reveals that Hb, RBC and PLT were lower (P<0.05) in fish after infection compared to the values before infection, but the values increased in the treated groups compared to the untreated group within the 7 days treatment period. The values of the WBC increase (P>0.05) in the fish after infection compared to the value before infection. However the values of WBC in the treated groups were lower compared to the untreated within the period of exposure to the carica papaya extract. The values of MCH, MCHC and MCV were fluctuating within the period of treatment. This study has shown that C.papaya roots extracts have the potency to improve the health and antimicrobial activities of culture fish during aquaculture operations. Hence, carica papaya aqueous root extract is therefore recommended for application in the rearing water at the rate of 1.50 to 2.00mg/l, for both therapeutic and prophylactic use in aquaculture.