Survey on some hematological and reproduction indices of wild beluga (Huso huso) brood stocks from the southeast of the Caspian Sea

Hematological studies are valuable diagnostic techniques in the medical care of fish, reflecting the health condition and the effects of environmental factors on fish. Due to the high value of sturgeon fish and necessity to recover the brood stock, this study was done to obtain data about hematological parameters and reproduction normative of wild brood stock beluga, Huso huso, from the southeast of the Caspian Sea before spawning. Hematological parameters including RBC, WBC, Hematocrit, Hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Differential White Blood Cell count (diff) were determined. In this regard, 7 male and 7 female wild broods were studied. Differences in mentioned parameters between genders were measure. The correlations among parameters were also compared. According to the results, the male belugas had significantly higher WBC and lymphocyte and lower neutrophil compared to the females. Also in this study, functional fecundity for female belugas was recorded as 447000 ± 157210 and weight of extracted spawn was calculated as 35.4 ± 3.78 mg with 4.17 ± 0.21 mm long diameter and 3.75 ± 0.19 mm width diameter. Egg fertilization for this fish was recorded as 46.7 ± 24.33, and larvae weight after hatch was recorded as 25.48 ± 1.56 mg. Hematological parameter of juvenile and fingerling reared belugas have been recorded in wide ranges, and it seems that there are differences in result these studies between reared and wild broodstock belugas. These findings highlight the importance of hematological parameter detection of wild beluga sturgeon.