Barbados aloe as a water-administered therapeutic against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Clarias gariepinus: Effects on hemato-biochemical profiles, electrolyte homeostasis, antioxidant capacity, and tissue histology.

Authors

Afaf N Abdel Rahman, Heba H Mahboub, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Ahmed Saud Alsaqufi, Yousef Ahmed Alkhamis, Mohamed Ashour, Roshmon Thomas Mathew, Mahmoud I M Darwish, Ahmed Abdou Elnegiry, Yasmin A Reyad

Published in

Veterinary research communications. Volume 50. Issue 5. Jun 19, 2026. Epub Jun 19, 2026.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly virulent bacterium that causes morbidity and mortality in fish farming practices. Therefore, the current work is accounted as a pioneer trial to assess Aloe vera or Barbados aloe gel (BAG, 8 mg/L) as an antimicrobial agent against P. aeruginosa infection in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). In addition, hematological, biochemical, blood electrolytes, and histopathological investigations were applied, alongside tissue antioxidant response. For this, fish (n = 160) were arranged into four sets (control, BAG, P. aeruginosa, and P. aeruginosa-BAG), with four replicates (40 fish/set) for 15 days. The outcomes exhibited hematological-biochemical disruptions with high mortality (42.50%) resulting from P. aeruginosa challenge. This is evidenced by lowering hematological parameters (red and white blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and neutrophils, lymphocytes) and elevation of hepatic enzymes (aspartate and alanine aminotransferases). In addition, stimulation of stress response (high cortisol and glucose), hyperkalemia, and lipid peroxidation (increased malondialdehyde level) were obvious in the P. aeruginosa group. This was besides hyponatremia and inactivation of antioxidants (catalase and superoxide dismutase) of the skin, gills, and liver. These tissues also exhibited histopathological abnormalities, including epithelial desquamation, tissue hyperplasia, necrosis, leukocytic infiltration, vascular congestion, and cellular degeneration following P. aeruginosa infection. Conversely, watery exposure to BAG palliated these changes induced by P. aeruginosa. It improved blood profiles, electrolytes, and hepatic enzymes while boosting tissue antioxidant activity and regenerating the histopathological structure of skin, gills, and liver. This alleviation led to decreased mortality (12.50%). Taken together, the current report confirmed P. aeruginosa 's pathogenicity. It highlighted the promoting activity of aqueous addition of BAG (8 mg/L) as an antibacterial agent, besides its privileges for enhancing fish health for sustaining aquaculture.Clinical trial number: not applicable.

PMID:
42319562
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 19 Jun 2026.

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