Haematological Assessment of the Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Exposed to Sublethal Concentrations of Portland Cement Powder in Solution

The effects of sub lethal concentrations of Portland cement powder in solution on some haematological parameters of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (L.)) mean weight 8.20 0.25 g was investigated using static bioassay system for 70 days. The sub lethal concentrations used were 19.60, 9.80, 4.90, 2.45, 1.23 and 0.00 (control) mg L-1. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the water quality parameters monitored. However, temperature did not show any significant variation (p>0.05) in both test tanks and the control. Haematological parameters examined include: Pack Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hgb), Total Erythrocytes Count (TEC), Total Leucocytes Count (TLC) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) which all decreased significantly (p<0.05), the decrease being proportional to the increase in the Portland cement powder in solution.