• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1998

Concerned to the lyfe cycle of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, the experimental infection and development of the parasites were studied in the several freshwater cultured fishes. Opitimum conditions for the propagation of the parasite by serial passage with the rainbow trout fry was observed. Visiable white spots were examined in the body surface, fins and gills of the healthy fries, and a stable infection has been maintained for 2 months in the experimental system (Temperature: $18{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ DO: 7-7.5 ppm; pH: $7{\pm}0.2$). Induction conditions for artificial infection of the parasite by interms of the host fishes, stages of the parasites, and rearing temperature regimes was investigated. Rainbow trout fries showed a positive infection which was resulted from exposure of theront at $18^{\circ}C$. The rainbow trout fries induced white spots on the body surface at 3-7 days exposure to the theronts at $18^{\circ}C$. It was found that exposure of the rainbow trout fries exposed to 1,000 theronts per fish (10 theront/ml) for 45-60 minutes at $18^{\circ}C$ would consistently produce infection. Perfect infection (100%) was induced when the fries were exposed to 1,500 theront per fish (15 theront/ml) under laboratory condition. Development of I. multifiliis in the rainbow trout was observed for 7 days postexposure (PE). The parasite increased in average diameter from $54{\mu}m$ on the 1st day PE to $426{\mu}m$ on the 7th day PE. In the initial infestation period, the parasites were found on the gill epithelium, and on the 3rd day PE they invaded into the basal part of the gill filament adjacent to the major blood vessels, particularly the afferent vessels. Morphological change of buccal apparatus were observed on the 2nd day PE. Contractile vacuoles were more prominent on the 4th day PE, and they had notable changes on the 7th day PE.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2020

A disease that manifested severe anemia of the gills occurred in the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), which was cultured for 5-6 months with a recirculation water system in the laboratory. Microscopic observations showed immature parasite in the gills and mature adults in the oral cavity. The matured parasite was 5.60-9.32 (7.42) mm in total length, with 4 pairs of clamps on the pedunculated haptor, which was separated from the body proper by a long isthmus. From the morphological observations of the larvae, it was identified as Neoheterobothirum hirame belonging to the monogenea. The average hematocrite of infected fish was 10.3 ± 2.8%, significantly lower than that of normal flounder 31.4 ± 4.2%. Histopathologically, fish infected with N. hirame exhibited reduced numbers of erythrocytes in blood vessels of the gill filament and lamellae, reduced red pulp area of the spleen, and hepatocyte atrophy. From the above results, the cause of severe anemia in olive flounder was identified as N. hirame infection. This study shows an example where the growth of pathogens can be a problem in the recirculation system due to low water exchange rate.