28th ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP April 21-25, 2003 Intestinal Ulceration And Enterotoxemia In Carp: Case Histology And Implications Nikola Fijan1, Zdravko Petrinec1, and Željko Grabarevic2 1Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees; 2Department for Pathology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb Heinzelova 55, POB 190,10000 Zagreb, Croatia In a case of mortality among three-year-old carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), all fish had extended bellies due to blisters in serosa and a large intestinal ulcer at the same location. Goussia carpelli was abundant in the intestine and very few aerobic bacteria were found in kidneys and livers. Virus was not isolated from fish. Histology revealed characteristics of the ulcer, coccidian and non-coccidian enteritis, a peculiar capillary meshwork in the basal membrane below enterocytes, massive infiltration of veins in propria by basophils, generalized vascular changes, serous peritonitis and pericarditis, as well as degeneration and necrobiosis in organs ascribable to a toxin. The death was caused by the heart failure due to degeneration and necrosis of the myocard as well as to the blood coagulation in spongious part. Unusual histological findings included also the rodlet cell reaction in the arterial bulb and the sclerosis of ventriculo-bulbar valves. Staining for bacteria demonstrated a long gram-positive rod in intestine, seemingly in monoculture. Factors that probably caused such alterations and implications of findings for fish pathology will be discussed. Return to 28th Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page