A protocol for assessing histological changes and biometry in Ucides cordatus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Ocypodidae) using linear indices

For decades, histological analysis has been used to assess the acute and chronic effects of xenobiotics in vertebrates. However, there are few studies discussing the role of histological alterations and their relationship with biometry in the health of invertebrates, such as crustaceans. Furthermore, there are no mathematical indices in the literature to assess histological or biometric findings in crustaceans. This study aimed to develop a protocol for assessing histological alterations in organs affected by xenobiotic exposure and correlations with biometry in crustaceans using linear indices. The research was guided by the need to create a specific scoring table and classification system for histological changes and biometrics in crab organs. The developed protocol is based on linear mathematical indices comprising three variables: (α) pathological factor, referring to the relationship between histological alteration and organ impairment; (β) alteration score, defined from lesion extent and/or number of alterations; and (χ) biometric factor, determined based on the relationship between body weight and carapace width, which is directly related to the occurrence of histological changes in Ucides cordatus. Sensitivity analysis showed that the sensitivity of alteration, reaction pattern, and total indices to a specific change is directly influenced by the lesion’s pathological factor or score. By presenting a standardized scoring table for histological changes in crustaceans, the proposed protocol contributes to a global and weighted assessment of crab health, with potential application in other crustaceans.