Hepatological Evaluation of Most Consumed Fishes in General Santos City
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19561703Keywords:
hepatological evaluation, histopathology, fish liver, General Santos City, Thunnus spp., Chanos chanos, Oreochromis spp., Decapterus spp., Sardinella spp., food safetyAbstract
The liver is a critical organ for metabolism and detoxification in fish, making hepatological evaluation essential for assessing fish health and potential food safety risks. This study examined the hepatological conditions of five most consumed fish species in General Santos City, Philippines—Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus spp.), Milkfish (Chanos chanos), Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), Galunggong (Decapterus spp.), and Tamban (Sardinella spp.). A total of 25 fresh fish samples (five per species) were collected from the General Santos City Fish Port Complex. Liver tissues were extracted, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed using standard histopathological methods, stained with eosin, and examined under compound light microscopy at 40×, 100×, and 400× magnifications. Histopathological assessment focused on identifying alterations including hepatocyte degeneration, vacuolization, necrosis, inflammation, and fatty change. Results revealed generally healthy liver structures across all species, with minor alterations such as mild vacuolization, slight cellular swelling, and pigment accumulation. Yellowfin Tuna (severity score: 4.2) and Tamban (1.6) exhibited compact, organized tissue architecture, while Tilapia showed moderate vacuolization (7.2) and Milkfish exhibited mild stress-related changes (3.8). No severe lesions including necrosis, fibrosis, or major disorganization were observed in any specimen. These findings suggest that the liver tissues of commonly consumed fishes in General Santos City remain within normal physiological ranges, with minor variations attributable to species-specific metabolic demands and environmental adaptations. This study establishes baseline hepatological parameters for future monitoring programs and supports ongoing food safety initiatives in the region.
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