Phytotherapy of Aeromonas hydrophila-infected Goldfish, Carassius auratus

Abstract

Etiological investigations have often implicated Aeromonas hydrophila, a heterotrophic Gram-negative pathogenic aquatic bacterium, in a variety of systemic and localized fish diseases. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a herbal concoction against A. hydrophila-infected goldfish (Carassius auratus). After the pathogen was intramuscularly injected, scales sloughed off on the site of administration, with the appearance of a muscular hemorrhagic protuberance that progressed into an extensive ulcerative dermatitis associated with focal hemorrhage, edema, and dermal necrosis exposing the underlying muscles. Progression of the disease affected the organs in the following order: muscle, gills, liver, and finally the heart tissue. The dip treatment with the concoction (1% herbal concoction dip treatment for 5 min/d daily at 1100 h) restored the histoarchitecture of the altered primary gill lamellae, liver, heart, and muscle. The recovery changes are reported.