The Use of Ultrasound Diagnostic Method and Histological Technique to Detect Pathologies of the Internal Organs and Skin of Sturgeon Species

ABSTRACT: To restore the stocks of sturgeon fish species in a depressed state, it is necessary to form broodstocks in hatchery farms. The technology of forming stocks in industrial conditions is far from perfect due to the low quality of breeders. The aim of this work was to identify the frequency of occurrence of anomalies and diseases of sturgeon internal organs using the method of ultrasound scanning and histological study. Two-dimensional black-and-white image, Doppler, elastography, and panoramic scan were used. Regular sonographic studies of abdominal organs, carried out in 2018–2025 at 20 fish farms, revealed a number of common pathologies and diseases in generative tissue: cystosis and polycystosis, fatty degeneration, underdevelopment and torsion of testes, neoplasm, hermaphroditism, sludge in the gallbladder, ascites, and others. The maximal number of individuals with disorders in the development of internal organs reached 67.9%, an average is 24.8%. Two stages of cystic degeneration of the ovaries were characterized by ultrasonic scanning. A significant increase in the number of females over 9 years old, with replacement of generative tissue with connective tissue (13.6%), was noted. The nature of ‘ink spots’ on the skin of Siberian sturgeon natural populations was studied. Malignant skin neoplasms were detected, and treatment routes were outlined.