• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2003

On September in 1998, a microsporidian infection was recognized in ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, farmed on Kyongnam province of South Korea. Cumulative mortality was around 10% in 10 days. Infected fish which were piping for air near the surface of the water or in the asphyxic, lethargic condition revealed darkening of body and abdominal distention. Numerous whitish nodules up to 3mm in size were observed throughout most of body organs and tissues including gill, operculum, peritoneal wall and organs. Xenomas were also histologically confirmed in multiple internal organs with the evidences suggesting circulatory disturbance. Based on the morphology of spore and xenoma, and the distribution of xenomas in organs and tissues, this disease was diagnosed to be a microsporidiosis caused by Glugea plecoglossi. The mortality might be deeply related to the local circulatory disturbance by xemonas rather than the mechano-chemical effect of xenomas on adjacent tissues.