Document Type : Research article
                            
                        
                                                    Authors
                            
                                                            
                                                                            1
                                                                        Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt                                
                                                            
                                                                            2
                                                                        Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt                                
                                                            
                                                                            3
                                                                        Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt                                
                            
                                                                            
                        
                        
                            Abstract
                            Ornamental fish aquarium globally is considered a key sector of aquaculture and represents a significant portion of the pet industry. Between June 2022 and February 2023, a total of 229 goldfish was examined to investigate the histopathological lesions associated with the parasitic fauna (Carassius auratus) collected from Elsaieda Aisha market in Cairo governorate, Egypt and some pet shops in Beni-suef and Elfayoum governorates. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections was 47.2 % . The isolated parasites include protozoan parasites (Trichodina spp., Ichthyophthirus multifillis, Chillodonella sp. and Icthyoboda necator), monogeneans (Dactylogyrus sp. and Gyrodactylus sp.), Encysted meta cercaria of Centrocestus fomanus, crustaceans ( Lernaea sp. and Argulus sp.) and one nematode Capillaria sp. with incidence rates 27.9% , 15.3% , 2.6% , 12.7% and 0.4% respectively. Gross examinations of the affected fish were varied and appeared as hemorrhage on the body' with excessive mucus production, ulceration, white colored worm-like copepods protruded on different parts of the body and pale anemic or congested colored gills. Histopathological changes included vacuolation, and necrosis of epidermal cells, hyperplasia and fusion of secondary gill lamellae. In addition, leucocytic cell infiltrations mainly lymphocytes and macrophages, hyperplasia of gill cartilage and parasitic cyst surrounded by several layers of fibroblast like cells were noticed. Inconclusion, the prevalence rate of parasites infestation in goldfish is relatively high as well as the pathological findings induced by these parasites and might negatively affect the proper function of the skin and gills of the host.
                        
                        
                        
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