Haematological parameters as predictive indicators of stress induced mortality in Pacific White Shrimp Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) broodstock during transboundary shipment

The influence of stress due to different transit durations during transboundary shipment of Penaeus vannamei broodstock from the supplier source located at Florida, USA to the port of entry Chennai, India was evaluated in terms of haematological parameters, such as total protein, glucose and haemocyte count. The parameters studied were correlated with the percentage of transit mortality, recorded under different transit durations and with the water quality parameters in the shipment bags. Refractive index (RI) of haemolymph samples of brooders subjected to transit durations were monitored with the objective to use RI as a suitable proxy for haemolymph protein. A linear relation was observed between the RI and total protein content (r(2) = 0.7874). Among the parameters determined, total haemocyte count (THC) was significantly reduced (P<0.05) in broodstock subjected to longer transit duration, which had increased mean total ammonia level and decreased mean dissolved oxygen concentration coupled with low pH levels. The levels of total protein and glucose significantly high with increase in transit durations. Data obtained subjected to Tukey posthoc test indicated all determined haematological parameters were statistically significant (P<0.05) between control and each test groups.