In the fish exposed to both the concentrations for 45 days there was a significant decrease in the hemoglobin content, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, as compared to the respective control fish.
On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the total leukocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and clotting time values during 30 and 45 days of exposure in lower and higher concentrations of deltamethrin.
The diffirential leukocyte count in fish of 30 and 45 days test period showed a significant increase in the populations of lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, and significant decrease in monocyte and basophil populations.
There was significant reduction in the mean length, breadth and area of erythrocytes in these deltamethrin exposed fish.
The result of this study reveals that the synthetic pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin adversely affects the hematology of the freshwater fish channa punctatus, and calls for the limited and cautions use of highly toxic pesticides like deltamethrin.