Abstract
A histo-pathogical examination was carried out to evaluate the effect of commercial extruded pellet (EP) and a raw fish moist pellet (MP) diet on the health of juvenile rockfish cultured in marine net-cage for 7 months. Fish were distributed randomly to each net cage as a group of 76,000 fish (initial mean body weight 5.9 g). After 2 months, the hypertrophy or swelling of liver parenchymal cells was identified in most individuals and lasted until 7 months. Livers in EP fed group frequently showed hypertrophic parenchyma and fatty change with occasional atrophic cells. However, after 4 months, lymphocytic infiltration in splenic parenchyma was seen in a number of individuals. In addition, the gastric glandular epithelium was atrophied and in the lumen of renal tubules protozoan parasites were frequently identified but there was no correlation with the type of feed. Moreover, juvenile rockfish on EP diet showed gross and microscopic hypertrophy of the liver which would be due to oversupply of feed. Severe hepatic cellular hypertrophy or swelling could lead to the damage of microcirculation. Especially fatty change and atrophic change of liver could be the result from the damage, which could be responsible for immunological problem. Lymphocytic infiltration of spleen on the MP diet suggests that juvenile rockfish could be frequently exposed to infectious antigens.
