Sexual Dimorphism in Clinical Chemistry and Profile of Hybrid Catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis)

Sex has been reported to influence the clinical chemistry of several species of fish. Whether sex impacts serum biochemistry composition and electrolyte profile of Heterobranchus longifilis is not well captured in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sex on the clinical chemistry composition and electrolyte profile of hybrid catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis. Blood samples were collected and biochemically analyzed. The analytes analyzed included alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, serum protein, albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, and urea. Uric acid, bicarbonate, Chloride, Sodium, and Potassium from 40 healthy Heterobranchus longifilis (20 males and 20 females). The males and females were not reproductively active at the time of sampling (None of the females had eggs). Most clinical chemistry analytes and electrolyte profiles of Heterobranchus longifilis showed differences between male and female values even though only a few (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, triglyceride, and uric acid) were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Based on the findings in this study, we suggest that sexual differences affect the clinical chemistry and electrolyte profile of Heterobranchus longifilis. Hence, sexual differences should be taken into consideration during sampling in both natural and experimental studies in Heterobranchus longifilis.