Histopathological Evaluations of Parasitic Infections in Spotted Green Pufferfish, Dichotomyctere Nigroviridis (Marion De Procé, 1822) in Bagan Lalang, Selangor

The spotted green pufferfish (Dichotomyctere nigroviridis), commonly found in Malaysia's fresh and brackish waters, may carry parasites due to its diet of crustaceans and mollusks, posing potential public health risks. This study investigated ectoparasite and endoparasite infections and their histopathological effects in juveniles and adults sampled in Bagan Lalang, Selangor. Sixteen pufferfish were collected, with skin, fin, and gill samples examined for ectoparasites, which Dactylogyrus spp., was primarily found in the gills. Cellular degeneration was prevalent in adult gills. For endoparasites, myxozoans were detected in the kidneys of all fish, with no parasites in other organs. Histopathology revealed significant structural changes (p<0.05), including melanomacrophage deposition in the kidneys and spleen and mild congestion in various organs. These findings enhance our understanding of D. nigroviridis host-parasite interactions and highlight potential ecological and public health impacts of parasite imfections in wild fish populations.