The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary lipid sources on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) hematological parameters. 112 juveniles of Nile tilapia with average initial weight of 50 ± 12g were distributed in 16 tanks with total capacity of 100L each in a totally randomized design with four treatments and four repetitions with seven fish each replicate. Treatments were composed of: treatment one - soybean oil; treatment two - fish oil; treatment three - linseed oil; treatment four - olive oil. Experimental diets were semi-purified, isonitrogenous (32% crude protein) and isocaloric (3200 kcal gross energy/kg of ration). No difference was found between treatments in hemoglobin rates, number of total erythrocytes and leucocytes differential counting (P>0.05). Fish from treatment one presented higher hematocrit rates compared with treatment two and treatment three (P<0.05). The highest level of mean corpuscular volume was observed in fish from treatment four (P<0.05). Fish from treatment three showed higher levels of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration compared with treatment four (P<0.05). Dietary lipid sources can influence the hematological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). It was observed a trend of increased erythropoiesis in Nile tilapia fed diets with high levels of ω-6 series fatty acid. Dietary oils were not able to change the total number of erythrocytes and white blood cells in Nile tilapia.
blood; fatty acids; fish; ration