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Histopathological changes induced by the digenean intestinal parasite Masenia nkomatiensis Dumbo, Dos Santos, & Avenant‐Oldewage, 2019 of the catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) from Incomati Basin, Mozambique
Author(s) -
Dumbo José Chissiua,
AvenantOldewage Annemariè
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/jfd.13055
Subject(s) - biology , clarias gariepinus , catfish , mucus , parasite hosting , epithelium , immune system , gill , intestinal epithelium , anatomy , secretion , pathology , immunology , fishery , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , endocrinology , medicine , genetics , world wide web , computer science
Abstract The intestines of 154 Clarias gariepinus were examined of which 29 were naturally infected with Masenia nkomatiensis , and of these, seven (intensity ranging from 8 to 231) were examined for pathology. Destruction of the epithelium covering the villi, detachment of epithelial cells and parts of villi were observed. Excessive mucus secretion occurred in the vicinity of the worm and catarrh was observed, indicative of an inflammatory response. The number of mucous and mast cells was higher at the attachment site than at an area 5,000 µm away and in uninfected individuals, suggesting that the parasite triggered a localized innate immune response. The number of neutrophils, basophils and lymphocytes in infected tissue was not significantly different from uninfected tissue confirming that no acquired immune response was produced against the maseniid. The caecae in the anterior part of the parasites' intestine consisted of convoluted epithelium forming invaginations or “crypts.” Contraction of the thick layer of circular muscle fibres of the caeca facilitates the movement of digested material. Observation of digested host cells and cell debris within the caecae provides further evidence that M. nkomatiensis is consuming host cells.