Philippine E-Journals

Effect of Fluctuating Temperature on the Formation of Melanomacrophage Centers and the General Health Status of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fingerlings

Anna Danica C. Tameta | Denzel Bryan Cruz | Leander John De Jesus | Ronnel Anthony Mantala | James Ralph Balagtas | John Kenneth Pagdanganan

 

Abstract:

Increased incidence of the heatwave and abnormal temperature changes have been reported to be an effect of climate change. Minimal changes in water temperature or temperature patterns may not be detrimental to poikilotherms but may have physiological effects on the general health status of farmed fishes such as Nile tilapia. To determine the sublethal effects of a 27 +3°C change in temperature, Nile tilapia fingerlings were subjected to experimental temperature fluctuation for 15 days. The general health condition of the fish was assessed by quantitative measurement of splenic melanomacrophage centers (MMC), body condition index (BCI), and spleen somatic index (SSI). Results show no significant difference in fish at 27 and 30°C for most of the parameters observed. This suggests that a 3°C increase in water temperature has little to no effect on the general physiology of Nile tilapia fingerlings based on the given parameters which are indicative that the fingerlings can withstand short-term temperature fluctuations and may have little to no effect on the general status of the fish.