The physiological response of fishes to a deficiency of cyanocobalamin and folic acid

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Abstract
Environmental adaptive response of fishes to the nutritional deficiencies of two important vitamins of the B‐group viz. cyanocobalamin and folacin has been investigated using growth, haematology and haemopoiesis as physiological indices. Extended studies lasting 105 days revealed a consistent decrease in growth or even loss of weight when cyanocobalamin and folacin were absent from the diet. The combined deficiency of these two vitamins had an additive rather than synergistic effect on growth. The feed conversion values of all the deficient groups were significantly low as compared to the control. Haematologically the occurrence of anaemia and leucocytosis were recorded in all the deficient groups, the former mainly of megaloblastic type. Differential WBC counts revealed that leucocytosis was mainly due to an increase in thrombocyte population and cosinophils. On the other hand, there was an relative decrease of other nongranulocytes and granulocytes. Erythro‐poietic investigations revealed a decreased proliferation rate of the reticuloendothelial cells and an increased number of young and mature reticulocytes and immature erythrocytes into the peripheral blood.

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