Impact of Fish Meal on Hematological Parameters and Immune Response in Albino Rats

This study aimed to evaluate the hematological effects of various dietary interventions on Albino rats, with a particular focus on parameters such as white blood cell (WBC) counts, red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), platelet counts (PLT), and platelet distribution width (PDW). The experimental diets consisted of soya beans (SOYAB F), crayfish (CRAYFISH 1), edible insects (Cirinaforda larvae) (CIRINA FORDA 1), and fish meal (SOYA WB), with the control group (CRL 1) receiving standard laboratory chow. The rats were fed their respective diets for a period of six weeks, and hematological parameters were measured after the experimental period.The results showed the following key findings: WBC counts were significantly higher in the SOYA WB (15.7) group compared to the CRL 1 (8.7) control group, indicating a heightened immune response. The LYMP# (lymphocyte count) was highest in the SOYA WB group (11.8), while the GRAN% (granulocyte percentage) was most elevated in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (36%). RBC counts were higher in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (8.93) compared to the CRL 1 group (6.59), and the HGB levels were significantly higher in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (15.4) than in the control group (12.5), suggesting an enhanced red blood cell production associated with the edible insect diet. The HCT was highest in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (45.9%) compared to the CRL 1 group (35.2%), indicating a possible improvement in overall blood volume. MCV and MCH were also notably elevated in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (60.4 and 18.6, respectively) when compared to the CRL 1 group (53.4 and 19), which further supports the beneficial impact of this diet on red blood cell characteristics.Additionally, PLT counts were significantly higher in the SOYA WB group (811) compared to the CRL 1 group (61), and PCT (plateletcrit) values were also increased in the SOYA WB group (5.21) relative to the control group (0.41), indicating a potential impact of fish meal on platelet function. The PDW, which measures platelet distribution, showed a slight increase in the SOYA WB group (14.6) compared to the CRL 1 group (14.2), suggesting variability in platelet distribution among the groups.These findings suggest that dietary interventions, particularly the inclusion of edible insects and fish meal, can significantly influence various hematological parameters, enhancing immune function, erythropoiesis, and platelet activity.