Long-term monitoring on the occurrence of a myxosporean parasite Kudoa camarguensis (Myxosporean) on the common goby (Teleostei, pisces) Pomatoschistus microps

Increased prevalence and severity of Kudoa thyrsites (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar exposed to deeper seawater

Kudoa thyrsites is a myxozoan parasite of marine fish with a global distribution. In British Columbia (BC), Canada, severe infections are associated with an economically significant degradation of fillet quality in farmed Atlantic salmon. Exposures to naturally occurring actinospores at a coastal research laboratory were used to test the hypothesis that the prevalence and severity of K. thyrsites infections acquired by exposure of Atlantic salmon to seawater (SW) of various depths are not different. In Expt 1, fish were exposed to SW from 1, 7 or 13 m below the surface. Following exposure to deeper-sourced SW, the prevalence of K. thyrsites, determined from microscopic examination of muscle histology sections, was greater in all 4 trials and the severity of infection was greater in 2 trials. In Expt 2, infections were compared over time among salmon held in tanks supplied with deep-sourced SW (raw or UV-irradiated) or in a surface net-pen. The infection was observed in 35 of 40 fish sampled between 3 and 6 mo after tank exposure to raw SW. Coincidentally, the parasite was observed in 4 of 40 fish maintained in the net-pen. No consistent association of the parasite infection was observed with temperature; however, reduced salinity and solar radiation were not ruled out as factors which may reduce the risk of infection from surface SW. These findings require verification at commercial aquaculture sites in BC, as they will inform considerations related to farm siting and net-pen configuration.

Low pH, dissolved oxygen and high temperature induces Thelohanellus rohita (myxozoan) infestation in tropical fish, Labeo rohita (Hamilton)

In Labeo rohita, myxozoan infection is very common and here occurrence and distribution of myxozoan gill parasites were studied with an objective to evaluate the relationship between myxozoan infections with different abiotic factors. All ponds were infected with myxozoan infection. Sampling of water and fish was done fortnightly and soil sample on monthly basis for about 6 months. L. rohita is infected with the one myxozoan species Thelohanellus rohita. The first, second and third gill arches showed higher distribution of myxozoans than the fourth one. Posterior hemibranch of second gill arch was the most preferred site for parasite attachment. The mean intensity of parasite was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the size class of 8-9 cm in comparison to the other size classes. There were profound variability in the prevalence, abundance and mean intensity of gill myxosoporeans from three ponds. During the start of the sampling, myxozoans were present in all the ponds but their intensity varied in different ponds. These may be due to the variability in the abiotic factors of individual ponds. Most importantly acidic pH, lower DO and higher temperature promote myxozoan infestation and their propagation. Low soil pH is also seen to enhance their propagation. Our data clearly highlighted that prevalence, intensity and abundance of T. rohita strongly influenced by the above environmental parameters and suggested that its life cycle is probably effected by their change; our hypothesis must be regarded as speculative as long as further detail study is not carried out.