• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 1996

During a study to document more fully the parasitic ciliates of Korean freshwater fishes, we found numerous small ciliates in the gills and skin of crucian carp, Carassius carassius. Cursory examination indicated that the ciliate were very similar with Chilodonella sp. In this study, we described the morphometrics of this ciliate in detail and compared with other species of Chilodonella in the world. Numerous small ciliates were observed in the body surface, fins and gills of infected fish and excessive mucus production were seen in those fish. Sometimes ulcer was observed in the body of moribund fish. From the scrutinized observation of the parasite, it was identified as Chilodonella hexasticha. The parasite was dorsoventrally flattened body, without a notch in the posterior margin, and it measured 30-$45{\mu}m$ long and 15-$30{\mu}m$ wide. In number of kineties, the right band ciliature was 3-5 and the left band ciliature was 3-5. The right ventral ciliary band shaped arch and was longer than the left, straight band. It had a single oval macronucleus, 8-$15{\mu}m$ in diameter, a single micronucleus, 2-$4{\mu}m$ in diameter. The cytopharynx was reinforced by 10-16 conspicuous nematodesmata, which shaped like a tube and curved at its inner end. Two contractile vacuoles, one anteriorly at right and the second posteriorly at left were observed in wet mounts. This parasite reproduced by a simple division at $22{\pm}1^{\circ}C$.