Histological evaluation of swim bladder non-inflation in striped bass larvae Morone saxatilis

Abstract

Non-inflation of the swim bladder is a common anomaly associated with cultured larval striped bass Morone saxatdjs. Histological examination of tank-cultured larvae revealed 30 1.0 had noninflated swim bladders. Two distinct morphological types of abnormal swim bladders were observed: glandular with marked fibrosis, and degenerative with severe fibrosis. Histological observations suggest that non-inflation of the swim bladder is irreversible.