Liver and Gill Microanatomy of Suckermouth Catfish and Tilapia Fish Inhabiting the Batik Wasted-Polluted River in Sokaraja, Banyumas Regency

Abstract

Batik wastewater is a significant environmental pollutant that may adversely affect aquatic ecosystems and human health. Its biological effects can be assessed using aquatic organisms as bioindicators. Suckermouth catfish and tilapia are fish species known for their adaptability to polluted environments; however, information regarding the histopathological condition of their livers and gills in batik wastewater-contaminated rivers remains limited. This study aimed to examine the microanatomical alterations in the livers and gills of suckermouth catfish and tilapia collected from a river contaminated with batik wastewater in Sokaraja, Banyumas. Liver and gill samples were fixed in neutral-buffered formalin (NBF), processed using standard histological procedures, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The liver was evaluated for congestion, degeneration, inflammation, and necrosis, whereas gill damage was assessed based on the extent of histopathological alterations. Histopathological observations were performed using Image Raster software. Histological findings were described qualitatively, while quantitative data were analysed using an independent-samples t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) in GraphPad Prism. The results showed that suckermouth catfish and tilapia were the only fish species collected from the batik wastewater-contaminated river. Both species exhibited comparable liver and gill damage, with lesions affecting approximately one-third to two-thirds of the microscopic field and overall tissue damage ranging from 26% to 50%. No significant differences in liver or gill damage were observed between the two species. Nevertheless, liver congestion was slightly more pronounced in suckermouth catfish than in tilapia, whereas gill damage was slightly greater in tilapia than in suckermouth catfish. These findings indicate that both species exhibited similar histopathological responses to exposure to batik wastewater contamination.