HISTOARCHITECTURAL ANOMALIES INDUCED BY ANTIBIOTIC FLORFENICOL IN COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT CATFISH PANGASIANODON HYPOPHTHALMUS

Antibiotics are widely used to prevent and treat bacterial infections, increasing aquaculture productivity. However, their imprudent use can lead to unintended consequences, including pathological alterations in vital organs of aquatic organisms. The safety of florfenicol following in-feed administration at 10 times the recommended dose and three times the recommended period in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus was studied. Florfenicol induced significant histoarchitectural anomalies as observed from the photomicrographs of double-stained sections of various tissues, including gills, liver, and kidneys of P. hypophthalmus, following in-feed administration at graded doses, viz., 0mg, 10mg, 30mg, 50mg and 100 mg/kg biomass–1 day–1 for 30 days, i.e., three times the recommended therapeutic duration. Gills exhibited lamellar fusion, epithelial lifting, and hyperplasia indicative of respiratory distress. There were hepatocellular vacuolation, degeneration, and congestion, suggesting impaired hepatic integrity. The kidney sections demonstrated tubular degeneration, necrosis, and interstitial inflammation implying renal dysfunction. These changes were prominent at higher doses, mostly in 50 mg and 100 mg groups, and in the extended duration of the treatment, underscoring the potential adverse effects of florfenicol on the histological integrity and physiological homeostasis of P. hypophthalmus. As the catfish species holds significant economic value in Asian aquaculture, understanding the impacts of antibiotic exposure is crucial for sustainable fish farming practices. Implementing appropriate antibiotic usage protocols and monitoring strategies can mitigate the risks associated with antibiotic-induced pathological alterations in commercially important aquatic species.