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Article History

Received: 27 February 2025

Revised: 8 December 2025

Accepted: 7 January 2026

First Online: 27 January 2026

Declarations

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: This study reports the first documented occurrence of a fibroma-like neoplastic lesion in the wild-caught Blackfin sea catfish ( Arius jella ) from the Bay of Bengal, India. Integrated radiographic and histopathological analyses revealed a collagen-rich spindle cell tumor associated with marked maxillary bone destruction and severe cranial deformity, including exophthalmos. The findings expand the limited baseline knowledge on neoplastic diseases in marine fishes and highlight the potential health and ecological implications for a commercially and ecologically important species. This work underscores the necessity for systematic disease surveillance and pathological monitoring in wild fish populations, particularly along the southeast coast of India where an increasing incidence of tumors has been reported, potentially indicating the emergence or spread of transmissible or environmentally driven neoplastic conditions, in order to better assess emerging health threats and safeguard aquatic biodiversity and fisheries sustainability. 

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: The authors declare no competing interests.