Pathology of the Pantothenic Acid Deficiency in Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus)

Abstract

Walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) fingerlings fed purified diet devoid of pantothenic acid showed reduced appetite at the end of the 4th week and reduced growth at the end of the 9-week feeding. Average mortality rate for the fish fed pantothenic acid – deficient diet was 80%. Mortalities first occurred during the 5^th week. At the beginning of 5^th week the fish fed the pantothenic acid-free diet showed eroded barbells and fins. Moribund fish fed vitamin-free diet at the 12^th week showed hemorrhagic areas on the skin and Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from liver and kidney. Histopathologically, epidermal necrosis of the barbells was observed on fish fed pantothenic acid-free diet at 5^th week. However, clubbed gills was found at the 12^th week. Lesions were also observed in skin, liver and spleen of moribund fish fed vitamin – free diet accompanied by A. hydrophila infection at 12 weeks.