The Impact of Soya, Crayfish, Insects & Fish Meal Diets on Haematological Parameters in Albino Rats

This study investigated the effects of different dietary interventions on the hematological profiles of Albino rats, focusing on critical blood 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 dietary treatments included soya beans (SOYAB F), crayfish (CRAYFISH 1), edible insects (Cirina forda larvae) (CIRINA FORDA 1), and fish meal (SOYA WB), with a control group (CRL 1) consuming standard laboratory chow. Over a six-week period, rats were fed these diets, and blood samples were analyzed to assess the impact on hematological parameters. The results revealed significant differences among the dietary groups. WBC counts were notably higher in the fish meal group (SOYA WB) at 15.7 compared to the control group (CRL 1) at 8.7, indicating enhanced immune activity. Lymphocyte counts (LYMP#) were also elevated in the SOYA WB group (11.8), while the granulocyte percentage (GRAN%) peaked in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (36%), suggesting specific immune modulations depending on the diet. The CIRINA FORDA 2 group showed a marked increase in RBC counts (8.93) and hemoglobin levels (15.4) compared to the control group (RBC: 6.59, HGB: 12.5), indicating that diets incorporating edible insects may boost red blood cell production and oxygen-carrying capacity. Hematocrit levels were also higher in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group (45.9%) versus the control (35.2%), which suggests improved overall blood volume and circulation. Additionally, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were elevated in the CIRINA FORDA 2 group, further supporting the beneficial effects of insect-based diets on blood health. The SOYA WB group exhibited significantly higher platelet counts (811) and plateletcrit (PCT) values (5.21) in comparison to the control group (PLT: 61, PCT: 0.41), suggesting that fish meal may enhance platelet function. The platelet distribution width (PDW) also showed a slight increase in the SOYA WB group (14.6) relative to the control (14.2), indicating variability in platelet size and distribution. Overall, these findings demonstrate that dietary components such as edible insects and fish meal can positively influence hematological parameters in Albino rats, promoting improved immune response, red blood cell production, and platelet function.