The E.M.histopathology of pancrease and kindey in goldfish (Carassiusauratus L.) infected by the plerocercoid of a ligulid tapeworm

Digrammasp.is studied.The Compression and distortion of the Viscera has beenmainly responsible for the large size of the plerocercoid in the abdominal cavityof host.Histological and E.M.observations reveal a very distintive necrosispattern involving atrophy of individual cells

as a result of the fragmentationof the nucleus and the cell mambrane and a marked acidophilic cytoplasm.The cell organelles of the necrotic hepatic cells undergo a series of markedpathological changes including reduction of mitochondria

dilation of rough endo-plasmic reticulum and dissolving of Golgi’s apparatus.The phenomena are usuallyaccompanied by absence of glycogen and fibrosis.The kidney of the affected fishshows pathological features which are marked by reduction of mitochondria andformation of hyaline vesicles in the proximal tubules.The Liguliasis may be con-sidered as a combined effect of dystrophy and cachexia caused by the pathogenicpleroceroid larvae of the tapeworm.