Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXIV, Issue 1
Written by Laura URDES, Richmond LOH, Cristiana DIACONESCU
Midge larvae, brine shrimp and Culex spp. larvae are important food items for many fin fishes, including Altum Angelfish. Chitin, the unbranched polymer present in the exoskeleton of arthropods, is not easily digestible by all fish species. Its edibility may also depend on variations of environmental factors to which fish are exposed, like acidic water. This is an unusual case of multifocal granulomatous pharyngitis and gastritis in Altum Angelfish, possibly caused by ingestion of mosquito (Culex spp.) larvae and exposure of the fish to highly acidic water (pH below 5.0). The microscopic examination of the larvae fed to the angelfish showed that the foreign bodies which caused the granulomatous reactions were exoskeleton residues of the Culex spp. larvae. However, the effect of acidic water on the integrity of the digestive tract of angelfish and the possible structural changes of the Culex larvae exoskeleton under these circumstances need to be demonstrated.
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