Prevalence and histopathology of branchioblastoma in Sardinella longiceps (Valenciennes 1847) of southeast coast of India

Branchioblastoma in Sardinella longiceps is described in present study. Large tumour masses were found under the operculum. Tumour is characterized by the multilobed and pale to red in color and located in the brachial chamber of the fish. It varied in consistency from very soft and triable to hard and also vary in size from 17 mm to 33 mm in diameter and 18 to 44 mm in length. Prevalence study revealed that the higher incidence (0.046 %) of branchioblastoma was reported in Cuddalore in premonsoon 2011 and lower (0.010 %) in Parangipettai at summer 2010. Histopathologic examinations revealed that the chondroid tissue with basophilic nodules and the fibrovascular stroma were present in the tumour tissue. Presence of dark stained nucleus and also the granular cells were typical in the tumour tissue. This is the first report of branchioblastoma in Indian marine waters.