Abdominal ascites in electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) associated with hepatic hemosiderosis and elevated water

Six electric eels (Electrophorus electricus) from various centers that hous e aquatic organisms presented clinically with abdominal distension followin g prolonged exposure to elevated environmental pH. Postmortem examination r evealed marked ascites. Culture of the abdominal fluid from three of the ee ls yielded either Aeromonas hydrophila or Citrobacter freundii, which were most likely secondary invaders. Histopathology showed marked iron accumulat ion in both hepatocytes and hepatic macrophage aggregates.