Assessment of Skin Pathological Responses in the Yellowfin Seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) under the Aeromonas hydrophila Exposure

Background: Bacterial diseases in cultured fish are considered the main problem to aquaculture system. Skin is the structure that covers the body in fish. Skin histopatological alterations were used to assess the effects of Aeromonas hydrophila exposure on the yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus). Methods: In this regard, 90 A. latus were exposed to sublethal concentrations of A. hydrophila (103,106 CFU/ml) for 3 weeks. Results: Some more severe alternations found in the skin of fish exposed. The most frequent histopathological changes detected in the skin including hyperplasia of epidermis, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucosal cells and dermis edema. Some more severe alternations found in the skin of fish exposed to higher level of A. hydrophila (106 CFU/ml) included telangiectasia of dermis layer. In addition, according to the results of histometrical studies in treated fish compared to control group showed that thickness of epidermis and dermis layers were increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: A. hydrophila can cause major histophatological changes in the skin of A. latus. In addition, histopathological changes of the skin provide helpful information about the environmental conditions and as particular biomarkers may provide imminent into evaluating the general health and stress status of fish.