ABSTRACT
This study examined the effect of different starvation periods on hematological parameters including hemoglobin[MCV], hematocrit [MCH], red and white blood cells count and corpuscle indices [MCHC], of cultured juvenile Beluga [Huso huso], with an initial body weight of 45 +/- 0.91g. After adaptation to a dry diet for 10 days group s, with 15 fish in each group, were used for this experiment. Each group was randomly distributed to twelve 500L fiberglass tanks. Each tank had a flow-through system. The fish were exposed to 4 different feeding regimes; Control Group [fed four times daily]; Group 1 [given 2 days of starvation]; Group 2 [given 4 days of starvation]; and, Group 3 [given 8 days of starvation]. Analysis was done at the end of each starvation period by collecting blood from the caudal vein and immediately transporting the samples to the laboratory. The results of the analysis indicated that the different starvation periods did not affect the red blood cell count. The hematocrit value in the Control Group was significantly lower [p<0.05] than the fish group starved for 8 days. MCHC value in the control group was significantly lower [p<0.05] than the fish group starved for 2 days. The hemoglobin concentration, MCV and MCH, did not show any significant difference between the treated groups and the Control Group. Those groups with longer starvation periods showed that the white blood cell count decreased significantly [p<0.05]. It could be concluded that short-term starvation periods weaken the immunological system of cultured juvenile Beluga