Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.61.2.5

Melanomacrophage centeres and diseases occurring in lesser-spotted catsharks, Scyliorhinus canicula (L.), from the southern Adriatic Sea - importance for monitoring

Andrej Gajić orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-9368 ; Shark Tales funded by National Geographic, 1145 17th St NW 20036 Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Amer Alić orcid.org/0000-0002-1721-8474 ; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Adla Kahrić orcid.org/0000-0002-5224-7502 ; Sharklab ADRIA: Center for marine and freshwater biology, 27 Chris, Triq il-Kappella Tal-Lunzjata, In-Naxxar, NXR 6031, Malta
Nurija Bilanović ; Department for Pathology, Cytology and Genetics, University Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo, Bolnička 25, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jovana Šupić ; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hajrudin Beširević orcid.org/0000-0002-5673-0753 ; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Melanomacrophages of fish are commonly explored as biomarkers of water pollution and are considered to be sensitive albeit non-specific health indicators in water ecosystems. Sharks as long living marine species are good sentinel species. This study presents morphometric data for splenic and hepatic melanomacrophages (MMC), and observed histopathology in ten lesser-spotted catsharks, Scyliorhinus canicula (L.), one of the most abundant shark species in the eastern Adriatic Sea. At necropsy, we collected random tissue samples from liver, brain, gallblader, pancreas, spleen, kidney, gills, entire digestive system, thyroid gland, rectal gland, entire urogenital (male samples) and genital system (female samples). Collected tissue samples were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic Acid-Schiff, and Masson Trichrome for microscopic examinations and morphometry. There was a minimal number of histopathological lesions in the examined sharks, but morphometric values reported herein were three folds higher than in previous studies in free-ranging sharks. Studies on larger numbers of sharks are needed to elucidate the biological significance of our finding in the context of population decline of the lesser-spotted catshark.

Keywords

Adriatic; catshark; diseases; melanomacrophage; monitoring

Hrčak ID:

250341

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/250341

Publication date:

28.12.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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