Histopathology of the Gills of Lake Van Fish Alburnus Tarichi (Güldenstädt, 1814) Infected With Dactylogyrus Spp. Parasites

Abstract

The Lake Van fish is an anadromous carp endemic to the Lake Van basin. In this study, the histopathological effects of Dactylogyrus spp. parasites, which naturally infected fish, on the gills were determined during reproductive migration. Fish gills were stained with hematoxylin and eosin after routine histological procedures and apoptotic cells in the gills were determined immunohistochemically. Dactylogyrus spp. parasites were found in 8 of the 60 fish caught in the study. No parasites were found in the fish sampled from the lake. It was observed that the parasites caused hypertrophy, hyperplasia, edema, epithelial desquamation, hemorrhage, fusion of secondary lamellae, and necrosis in the gills. Immunohistochemically, no increase in the number of apoptotic cells was observed in the gills of the parasite-infected fish when compared with the non-infected fish gills. As a result, it can be inferred that the lake water has a restrictive effect in fish against parasites. Histopathologic lesions caused by the observed parasites in fish caught in fresh water could significantly affect gill functions. © Western Philippines University.