Histopathological characterization of age-related intestinal lesions and fibrosis in naturally coccidia-infected Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2026.065
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Abstract
Intestinal coccidiosis is an important protozoan disease in marine teleosts, particularly under aquaculture conditions. In juvenile Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer), infection leads to severe intestinal injury accompanied by inflammation and fibrotic remodeling. This study aimed to characterize inflammatory and fibrotic responses to piscine intestinal coccidia in fish at different developmental stages. A total of 88 intestinal samples from naturally infected juvenile Asian sea bass aged 60 and 90 days (44 samples per group) were collected from marine cage farms in Satun Province, Thailand. Intestinal tissues were processed using standard histological methods, stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for lesion evaluation, and Picro-Sirius Red for fibrosis assessment. Lesion severity (inflammation, extended inflammation, necrosis, congestion, and desquamation) was graded semi-quantitatively, and fibrotic areas were quantified under polarized light. Statistical comparison between age groups was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. The 60-day-old fish exhibited significantly higher levels of inflammation (p = 0.000), extended inflammation (p= 0.001), necrosis (p = 0.038), and congestion (p = 0.000) compared to the 90-day-old group, whereas desquamation did not differ significantly (p = 0.685). In contrast, fibrosis was more pronounced in the 60-day-old fish (p < 0.05), indicating stronger fibrotic activity associated with persistent inflammation. Intestinal coccidiosis in juvenile Asian sea bass induces marked inflammatory injury in younger fish and subsequent fibrotic remodeling in older fish. These findings highlight the dynamic progression of intestinal pathology and emphasize the importance of early disease management to minimize long-term intestinal damage in aquaculture systems.
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