Serum Biochemistry and Enzymatic Biomaker of Gercacinid Crabs from Mangrove Swamp of the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Abstract

Environmental factor is known to influence crab immune chemistry. This study presents the haemato-biochemical parameters and enzymatic biomarker of gercacinid crabs (Cardisoma guanhumi and Cardisoma armatum) from mangrove swamp of the Lagos Lagoon using standard procedure. The haemocyte subpopulations were higher in C. guanhumi than the percentage obtained in C. armatum with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Significantly, higher range values of aspartate aminotransferase (12.03±0.35 µi-1), alanine aminotransferase (10.07±0.58 µi-1), alkaline phosphatase (89.94±3.38 µi-1), lactate dehydrogenase (124.86±0.70 µi-1) and urea (33.90±2.00 mg dL-1) were recorded in C. guanhumi. Examined samples of gercacinid crabs showed significant difference only in malondialdehyde (among the enzymatic biomarkers) with mean values of 6.32±0.05 Hmol/mg pro and 9.36±0.27 Hmol/mg pro for C. guhanhumi and C. armatum respectively. The haemato-biochemical parameters of the gercacinid from the studied location varied across species.