Comparing the efficiency of anesthesia with clove, propofol and electric method on the duration and return from anesthesia and its effect on some immune and physiological responses in the beluga (Huso huso)

This study was conducted in order to investigate and compare the effect of cloves, propofol and electrical methods on the duration and recovery from anesthesia and their effects on some immune and physiological responses in beluga (Huso huso). The 270 beluga fish were randomly stored in 12 tanks. To induce anesthesia, a bath of 300 mg/L of clove powder, 5mg/L of propofol and an electroshock device were used as experimental treatments. In each treatment, immediately after the fish reached the stage of anesthesia, the duration of anesthesia and the recovery time were recorded separately and compared. The treatments were also evaluated for the anesthetic effects on the blood indices (red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit percentage), immune parameters (lysozyme and ACH50) and stress parameters (glucose and cortisol). In the examination of hematological indices, the highest level of hemoglobin was obtained in the electroshock treatment, which was significantly different from other treatments, and the lowest was related to clove powder treatment (P<0.05). The highest content of hematocrit was observed in the electroshock treatment and the lowest value was measured in the propofol and clove powder treatments (P<0.05). The results of immune parameters showed that the highest levels of lysozyme and ACH50 were in the electroshock treatment and the lowest values were in the clove powder treatment (P<0.05). Also, the results of stress indicators showed that the highest levels of glucose and cortisol were detected in the clove treatment and the lowest values were in the electroshock treatment. The results of this study revealed that the immune and stress indicators of the fish that underwent electrical anesthesia were better than the clove and propofol methods. Therefore, electrical anesthesia is a fast, cheap, eco-friendly method that can be a potential alternative to chemical anesthesia agents.