Work

Aspects of the Histopathology of Clarias gariepinus Infected With the Camallanid Parasite Procamallanus ( Procamallanus ) pseudolaeviconchus Moravec and Van As, 2015

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Histopathological studies of infections with the nematode Procamallanus (Procamallanus) pseudolaeviconchus Moravec and Van As, 2015, an intestinal parasite of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), are scarce. The current study describes histopathological changes in the stomach of C. gariepinus infected with P. (P.) pseudolaeviconchus and links it to the parasite's wound-inflicting and feeding structures using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A total of 20 fish were collected from the Vaal River below the Vaal Dam and Lake Heritage in the Crocodile River, Gauteng, South Africa. In Lake Heritage, the prevalence of the infection was 80%, with mean intensity and mean abundance of 2.5 and 2, respectively. Perforation and alteration of the columnar epithelial cells lining the secondary folds of the stomach mucosa, trauma to the loose connective tissue, and gastric glands were observed. Mast cell numbers did not vary in the infected and uninfected samples, indicating the absence of an initiated cellular immune response. No haemorrhage, cellular infiltration, inflammation, necrosis or granuloma formation was observed in the infected sample. The peribuccal flanges, the solid buccal capsule and the muscular oesophagus are the wound-inflicting and feeding structures.

Source: Journal of Fish Diseases

DOI: 10.1111/jfd.70107

Authors: Thabo Kenneth Matea, Annemariè Avenant‐Oldewage

Institution: University of Johannesburg

Language: English

Topic: Parasite Biology and Host Interactions

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,450

Funders: National Research Foundation, University of Johannesburg