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HISTO-PATHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF PROCAMALLANUS SPECIES IN INTESTINE OF PISCIAN HOST

MASTACEMBELUS ARMATUS

Dama L.B.* Pathan A.V.**

*Department of Zoology, D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts and Science, Solapur, 413002 (M.S.), India.
**Department of Zoology and Fishery Science, Azad College, Ausa, District Latur (M.S.), India
(Corresponding Author : Email khanamjed777@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT
Present study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and pathological changes induced by in the intestine of
freshwater fish Mastacembelus armatus. The histopathology of the fish tissues shows different pathological
conditions. There was fibroid mucosa, ulcerative lesions at mucosal region, ruptured serosa layer, villous processes
shortened, fused and irregular shaped, penetration of parasites up to muscularis layer, hyperplasia, atrophy, edema
seen at different portion of intestine. Some of the cells near worm penetration dislodge from their places become
shrunken and their content degenerated.
KEYWORDS: Histopathology, Intestine, Mastacembelus armatus, Procamallanus sp

INTRODUCTION
Histopathology is the microscopic study of tissues affected by disease. Healthy fish may be infected with pathogenic
helminth parasites and do not show clinical sign of being diseased. Therefore histopathological study can be of great
significance as it is the microscopic examination of tissue in order to study the appearance of diseases therefore
histopathology is the study of tissue damage. Tissue damage could be harmful due to physical pressure exerted by the
parasites or may be caused by the cytotoxin secreted or excreted by the helminth parasites which may sometimes lead
to hypersensitivity reactions. Many abnormal conditions may be encountered in intestine of fish infected with helminth
parasites. Fish diseases constitute one of the most important problems and challenges confronting fish culturists. In
India, there have been reports of helminth parasite infections in freshwater fishes from a few localities. Hall and
Bellwood, (1995) stated that, the histological analysis of the digestive system is recognized a good indicator of the
nutritional status of fish.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Examination of fish for collection of parasites
Examination of intestinal parasites was carried out by using the method described by Hassan et al., (2010). After the
separating and counting the population of different helminth parasites from different freshwater fishes the parasites
were preserved in separate bottles. Some of these were used for the taxonomic study.

Identification of parasites
All the recovered gastrointestinal helminth parasites were sorted out into their various groups (Cestodes, Trematodes,
Nematodes and Acanthocephala). The parasites were preserved and fixed in 70% alcohol. The parasite samples were
transferred to vials, thoroughly sealed and labeled with code names.

Fixation of nematode
The nematodes collected were washed thoroughly in normal saline solution in test tube with 2 or 3 changes to cleanse
unwanted debris. Nematodes were fixed with warm A.F.A. (Alcohol-Formaline-Acetate). The warm fixative causes the
nematodes to straighten instantly and die thus avoiding the curled and distorted specimens

Preparation of slides of histopathological studies

The infected tissue of Mastacembelus armatus was taken out and fixed in alcoholic Bouins fluid for 24 hours. After
the complete removal of picric acid, the tissue was dehydrated, clarified with xylene and processed for preparation of
paraffin wax blocks. The tissue was then cut at 4 - 5 m thickness by rotatary microtome and stained routinely with
haematoxylin and eosin (H-E) for histopathological examination (Lillie and Harold 1954). Stained histopathological
sections were examined under Olympus research microscope. Histopathological changes observed were photographed
according to Annie et al (2014), and interpreted in comparison to the work of others.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The infected intestine of Mastacembelus armatus infected with nematode parasite Procamallanus sp. shows severe
damage in the whole thickness of its wall (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Histopathology of Mastacembelus armatus infected with Procamallanus sp. (H and E)

A. T.S. showing section of nematode (arrow 1 and arrow 2), fibroid mucosa (arrow 3), inflammatory cells are
prominent near section of nematode (arrow 4)
B. T. S. showing section of nematode (arrow 1), ulcerative lesions at mucosal region (arrow 3), dialated portion of
mucularis externa shows degeneration of muscles (arrow 2 and arrow 4)
C. T.S. of infected intestine showing chronic case of infection with large number of nematode larvae and hypertrophy
of mucosal region (arrow 1). Hyperplasia, atrophy, edema seen at different portion of intestine (arrow 2 and arrow 3)
D. T.S. showing the magnified transverse section of penetration of parasites up to muscularis layer (arrow 2). Some of
the cells near worm penetration dislodge from their places become shrunken and their content degenerated (arrow 1 and
arrow 3)

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Necrosis in sub mucosal region and loss of architectural composition shown in figure 1 A. Destruction of intestinal
wall with loss of villous epithelial lining was seen. T. S. shows section of nematode, ulcerative lesions at mucosal
region, dialated portion of mucularis externa shows degeneration of muscles (Figure 1 B). The muscular layers were
also affected; ulcerative lesions were prominent at submucosal region Hyperplasia, atrophy, edema seen at different
portion of intestine, intestinal lumen filled with necrotic and inflammatory cellular debris (Figure 1 C). The villi were
atrophied becoming long and irregular with vacuolation of sub-mucosa which also indicate atrophy, Some of the cells
near worm penetration dislodge from their places become shrunken and their content degenerated (Figure 1 D). Several
sections of nematode larvae were also observed (Figure 1 C, D). In more severe condition all the intestinal morphology
was lost. Penetration of nematode larvae along with atrophied cellular organization, fibroid mucosa, inflammatory cells
are prominent near section of nematode, ulcerative lesion ), Section of infected intestine shows chronic case of
infection with large number of nematode larvae and hypertrophy of mucosal region.

DISCUSSION
During present investigatios it is found that Mastacembelus armatus is heavily infected by Procamallanus sp. revealed
severe damage to the thickness of intestinal wall. Pathological effect exhibited destruction and completely damaged
villious epithelial linings, strong inflammatory response and vacuolization in muscularis and lamina propria, ulcerative
lesions, breakage and separation of villous processes with large space. The present findings are more or less similar to
the observations made by Bose and Sinha (1983) who reported the pathological changes mainly enhanced mucus
secretion in Heteropneustes fossilis infected by nematode, Procamallanus spiculogubernaculus. Single infection by
Procamallanus sp. with more than ten worms showed edema in the submucosa with diffuse lymphocyte infiltrations
similar findings made by Hassan et al; (2010).

It is concluded that the helminth parasites found contact with host tissue and utilize the nutritive material to the
favorable for its nourishment and growth from the host tissue and make host weak, affecting the growth of host causing
damage to intestinal tissue of host.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author thankful to Principal, D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts and Science, Solapur (M.S) India for providing
laboratory and library facilities.

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Bose K.G. and Sinha A.K. (1983). Histopathology of stomach wall of freshwater fish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.)
attributable to the nematode Procamallanus spiculogubernaculus (Agarwal). Ind. J. Helminthol. 36: 93 96
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Synodontis clarias From Lekki Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria. Report and Opinion, 2010; 2 (11)
Lillie R.D. and Harold M. Fullmer (1954). Histopathologic technique and practical histochemistry. McGraw Hill
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Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 6