Impact of ultrastructural and molecular identified babesiosoma spp. in both Egyptian freshwater fishes (common carp and African catfish): Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological findings

Abstract

Background: Babesiosomes are apicomplexan parasites of both marine and freshwater fish species Aim: In this study, we recorded the prevalence of Babesiosoma spp in two Egyptian freshwater fish species; the common carp and the African catfish with full pathological evaluation of the diseased condition, hematological and biochemical analysis of some parameters with exact recognition of the parasite with different methods. Methods: Two hundred and forty fish blood samples from Al-Sharqiya and Al-Ismailia governorates from August 2022 to January 2023 followed by blood film examinations, performing electron microscopy and molecular detection of the parasite via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The total infection prevalence was 63.75% with a higher prevalence observed among African catfish (42.5%) than Common carp (21.25%). Regarding hematologic parameters the obtained results showed a significant decrease in the hematocrit values and a significant increase in the total leukocyte and lymphocyte values in both infected fish species. The serum ferritin, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were also significantly increased. However, the total iron binding capacity was significantly decreased. There was also a significant increase in the total serum bilirubin in the examined fish, all at (P [Open Vet J 2024; 14(1.000): 407-415]

Keywords

• babesiosoma
• egypt
• common carp
• african catfish
• blood parasites