Some blood chemistry values for the juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

Abstract

Overlapping Gaussian distribution curves were resolved into normal ranges for 1800 clinical test values obtained from caudal arterial blood or plasma of more than 1000 juvenile coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) held under defined conditions of diet and temperature. Estimated normal blood chemistry ranges were bicarbonate, 9.5–12.6 mEq/liter; blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 0.9–3.4 mg/100 ml; chloride, 122–136 mEq/liter; cholesterol, 88–262 mg/100 ml; p CO 2 , 2.6–6.1 mm Hg (10 C); glucose, 41–135 mg/100 ml; hematocrit, 32.5–52.5%; hemoglobin, 6.5–9.9 g/100 ml; total protein, 1.4–4.3 g/100 ml; blood p H (10 C), 7.51–7.83. The calculated range of normal acid–base balance vs. water temperature is also presented.