[Histopathological changes in myxosomosis in rainbow trout]

Rainbow trout, caught in a pond 25, 45 and 48 days from releasing, were studied for histopathological changes. Protozoan activity destroys the basal matter of the hypertrophic cartilage. The chondral tissue around plasmodium reacts by showing an increased basophilia and by chondrocytal reaction. The plasmodia tend to spread spherically, but the spreading is prevented by compact bone, connective tissue, or hardened cartilage with flattened chondrocytes. One host can bear one plasmodium or more plasmodia, up to the possibility of a generalized process. The host organism reacts to the destructive changes caused by the protozoan by letting its connective tissue cells grow into the cavities produced by the protozoan, into the plasmodia of the protozoan and into the destruction line; thus the protozoan is separated from the nutrition base. The connective tissue enters the lesion via a hole in compact bone or via a fissure between bone and cartilage. Circulation and blood elements were not found to be present in the penetrating connective tissue. The bone tissue reacts to the presence of the protozoan by thickening the periosteum. Mature spores in the lesions by the protozoan are reduced with host age.