Publication Abstract

Histopathology of parasites and diseases in great pipefish (syngnathus acus) from an estuary in the United Kingdom

M. Longshaw, M.J. Green and S.W. Feist

During a targeted survey of estuarine fish in the Mersey estuary in Northeast England, great pipefish (Syngnathus acus) were caught as a by-catch. A number of different parasite species were recorded including Trichodina sp. in the gills, Myxidium sp. in the gall bladder, Kudoa cf. quadratum and digenean metacercaria in the musculature and Anisakis simplex in the viscera. Tissue responses to most of the parasites encountered were similar to those reported for similar species in other fish. These included generalised encapsulation with fibrous tissue for the digeneans, limited epithelial hyperplasia associated with the presence of trichodinids and practically no response against the intracellular Kudoa sp. The notable exception to these relatively mild tissue responses was the host response elicited by the Myxidium sp. in the gallbladder. There was some epithelial hyperplasia and cellular necrosis associated with the plasmodia. In some cases there was atrophy and sloughing of the epithelial cells. Some plasmodia appeared to be attached to the epithelium of the gallbladder and intracellular stages were not apparent. The results are discussed in relation to biotic and abiotic factors.

Reference:

M. Longshaw, M.J. Green and S.W. Feist (2004) Histopathology of parasites and diseases in great pipefish (Syngnathus acus) from an estuary in the United Kingdom. Journal of Fish Diseases, 27: (4) 245-248