Hematological Parameters of the Australian Red Claw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda: Parastacidae) When Exposed to Air

Abstract—The effect of exposure on the hematological parameters of the red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus Von Martens 1868 has been studied. The hemolymph is taken immediately after extraction from the water after 2, 4, and 8 h of exposure on the shore and 24 and 72 h after returning to the water. The total hemocyte counts (THCs), hemogram, general protein, and hemocyanin disease are determined. The dynamics of the growth of hematological parameters in the temporal aspect is revealed: THC and the proportion of granulocytes increase to reveal the entire pattern of growth, the proportion of agranulocytes, and the total content of protein and hemocyanin. After exposure on the shore, the color of the hemolymph changes from bluish with a grayish tint to cloudy gray-green (deviation from the norm). The data indicate the development of compensatory factors and pathological properties in response to stress and the occurrence of symptoms in the air, which can be used in practice in assessing the state of the red claw crayfish in the process of transport.