Comparative Study on the Digestive Enzyme Activities, Hematology and Histopathology in Wild and Farmed Labeo rohita

Abstract

This study compared the amylase and lipase activity, hematology, and histopathology of wild and farmed Labeo rohita. A total of 18 fish (9 wild and 9 farmed) in triplicate were used in the present study. Blood samples were taken, and organs were dissected for analysis. The results showed that wild fish had significantly higher amylase activity in the liver (8.00±0.27 U/L) compared to farmed fish (1.00±0.65 U/L), while farmed fish had higher amylase activity in the intestine (13.60±0.44 U/L) than wild fish (9.30±0.37 U/L). Lipase activity in both the liver and the intestine was similar between the two groups. Hematologically, farmed fish had higher levels of hemoglobin (8.90 g/dL), hematocrit (26.7%), and plasma protein (2.86 g/dL), while wild fish showed elevated WBC counts (11.10×10³/µL) and MCHC (41.20 g/dL). Histopathological examination revealed that farmed fish had healthy hearts, kidneys, and gill structures, while wild fish showed elongated cardiac vessels, hydropic degeneration in the kidneys, and gill damage, including epithelial rupture. Overall, farmed Labeo rohita appeared to be healthier than its wild counterparts. The findings of this study have significant future implications for improving aquaculture practices, as they can inform the development of optimized diets, enhance fish health management strategies, and guide selective breeding programs to bridge the physiological gap between wild and farmed populations.