The study was conducted to know the pathological changes in the intestine of snakehead Channa punctatus naturally infected with acanthocephalan parasites. During present investigations 52 fishes (Channa punctatus) were examined. The parasites collected from the intestine were preserved, stained and mounted by using standard techniques. For the histopathological investigation tissue samples from infected intestine were fixed in Bouin’s fluid for 24 hours using routine histological techniques, 6-8 micron thick sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin finally mounted in Canada balsam.
The histopathology of intestine revealed distortion of glands, vacuolation, distortion and separation of muscular layer.Disintegration of villi with erosion in hyperplasia of intestinal villi and laminia propria were seen. Architectural disintegration of tunica mucosa and goblet cells were observed.