PROTOZOAN

Phylum Ciliophora
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
Suborder
Sessilina

Family
Vorticellidae
- Genus Vorticella
L.
- Genus
Carchesium






Family Epistylidae
- Genus Epistylis

Skin, fin,
gills
Epistylis is a stalked protozoan that appears as a fluffy
growth on the external surface of crustaceans and fish.
Epistylis uses the animal as an attachment substrate,
so it can feed on bacteria and particles in the water.
The attachment of this protozoan imbeds itself in the
epidermis of the skin, therefore creating an opening for
a secondary bacterial and/or fungal disease.
This protozoan may also be a secondary invader of
bacterial lesions.

Disease signs / symptoms:
Infected fish
severe irritation or suffocation
Skin ulcerations
causes of red lesions on the skin of fish such as
bacteria Aeromonas infection


Salt baths, 3x a
week
Formalin baths
(200 ppm) for 40
min
If the fish have
ulcer and
secondary
bacterial
infection, treat
with
Oxytetracycline

Adequate
nutrition
good handling
Decrease animal
density / not
over crowding
Good water
quality;
dissolved oxygen
(DO), pH,
temperature and
alkalinity of the
water must be
satisfactory.

Family
Scyphidiidae
- Genus Apiosoma
- Genus Scyphidia


Skin, fin,
gills
Sessile peritrichs favour soft skin, devoid of large scales
and most common on juvenile fish.
More often colonized on the weak or unfavourable
conditions fish.
Skin irritation caused by the dense colonization.
The foot or stalk compresses the epithelial cells to
which it is attached, causing deformation and resulting
in functional disorders of the epithelium.
Mass colonization of the gills and skin can affect
respiration and disturb their normal movement.
Growth retarded and weight lost, particularly for young
fish.

Treatment with
formalin is
usually effective
for freshwater
species.
Formalin baths
(200 ppm) for 40
min


Suborder
Mobilina

Family Trichodinidae
- Genus Trichodina



Skin, fin,
gills

May survive up to two days without the host
Trichodinids thrive in shallow ponds and stagnant
water
All ages of fish, but are most abundant on fry and
fingerlings.
Infected skin becomes irritated. Hyperplasia,
degeneration and necrosis of epithelial cells and
proliferation of mucous cells.
Gill damage

Disease signs / symptoms:

Infected fish may exhibit abnormal behavior.
Infected fish become sluggish, lose weight and
become moribund.
Dull and whitish coating of mucus develops on
the affected surface.
Infected gills caused excess of mucous.
Fins often fray.
Ulcer may be seen on the skin.
Sodium chloride
(NaCl)
- 25 000 ppm 3hrs
bath, 3 days
- 20-25 second dip
daily
- 2 000 ppm
10-15 mins, bath
Formalin
- Concentrations vary
from 15-40 ppm,
durations from 12
24 hrs.
- Sea-water or
brackish water
habitats (100 150
ppm for 3 6 hrs)

Create the
unfavourable
environment for
trichodinids.
Ponds should be
disinfected
before stocking
Transplanted fish
should be
examined for
Trichodina and
treated if
infected.

Family
Ophryoglenidae
- Genus:
Ichthyophthirius
Skin, fin,
gills
Small white spots all over the body, gills and fins.
Lesions look like small blisters on the skin or fins

Disease signs / symptoms:

Irritation, fish start scratching itself on the substrate
and other objects in the tank.
- Flashing
- Weakness
- loss of appetite or stop feeding
- decreased activity
On the gills:
- white spot will not see at all, but fish die in large
numbers
- gills pale and very swollen

Diagnosis
Confirmed by microscopic examination of skin
and gills.
Remove several white spots from an infected
fish, mount on slide and observed under
microscope
Mature : large, dark in colour, a horseshoe-
shaped nucleus
Immature (Tomites) : smaller, translucent
- Quarantine all new
fish
(2-8 weeks at water
temperature, 26C)
- Left the tank
without fish up to
4 days.

Marine ich:
Cryptocaryonosis

Responds well to
copper therapy
Tomonts can be
lysed by
hyposalinity.
Hyposalinity (10 ppt)
for 3 hrs.







Family
Chlamydodontidae
- Genus: Chilodonella
(Strand, 1926)

Skin, fin,
gills

Feed on epithelial cells by extruding its oral basket and
pushing it into the cells.
Formed cysts during unfavourable conditions.
Young fish are particularly severely affected

Disease signs / symptoms:
Irritable
jump
Formalin:
- 100ppm for 3
hrs.
- 250ppm for 1
hr.
Sodium Chloride
(NaCl)
- 10 000 15
Adequate feed
Not
overcrowded
Good water
quality

weak and unresponsive
bluish-grey mucus covers the infected skin
gills damaged due to tissue hyperplasia

000ppm for 20
minutes
Acriflavin:
10ppm not more
than 12 hrs.

Brooklynella
(Brooklynellosis)
- marine analogue of
Chilodonellosis
Gills and
skin

cause serious skin lesions

Not suitable to
copper, but formalin
baths are effective



Phylum Sarcomastigophora
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
Suborder
Sessilina

Family Blastodiniidae
- Oodinium
(freshwater)
- Amylodinium
(saltwater)

Skin, gills,
nasal
cavities
and
buccal
cavity



Damage caused by Oodinium is due to the penetration
of the host epithelium by the rhizoids.
Also occurs on the gills, nasal cavities and buccal cavity.
Injuries caused by mechanical penetration may be
aggravated by the lytic action of secretions.
Focal necroses, haemorrhages and secondary
infections by bacteria and fungi are common.
Skin ulcer
Skin infection is less dangerous than gills.
Excess mucus, darkening of skin, dyspnea, anorexia
and depression.

Oodinium sp.
- Sodium Chloride
(NaCl), 3-5% dip 1-2
min or 0.5% for 24
hrs
Amyloodinium sp.
Use freshwater
(gradually change
from saltwater to
freshwater)


Family : Bodonidae
- Ichthyobodo necator
skin or
gills
Tissue irritation and epithelial hyperplasia.
Increased mucus production; dull spots on body (blue
slime).
Infected gills pale and covered with mucus
Fin damage; swim awkwardly with fins held close to the

body.
Secondary infection Fungus
Scrape against solid objects.
Loss of appetite.
Moribund fish

Family Cryptobiidae
- Genus Cryptobia
- Body
surface
and/or
gills
(ectopara
sitic)
- in the
digestive
tract
- in the
blood
(endopar
asitic) of
fishes.

Dyspnea
Gill damage / pale gill
Increase mucus
Severe weight loss / emaciated
Sucken eyes

No specific
therapeutic
measures against
Cryptobia.


Family
Trypanosomatidae
- Genus Trypanosoma
- Blood Heavy infected fish:
Anaemia
Pale gills
Acute phase of disease:
A drop of freshly collected blood and examine
under light microscope (wet-mount technique).
Thin blood smear and fixed with alcohol-formalin
and stained with Giemsas stain.
Early and chronic infection:
Hematocrit centrifuge technique

No treatment.

Denying the
intermediate host
(Leech) entry into
fish ponds.
Phylum Myxozoa
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
Family Myxobolidae
- Genus Henneguya
Skin, gills,
liver, heart,
kidney,
spleen
Disease: Henneguyiasis
- Various Henneguya sp produce different
lesions in different hosts.
- External lesions: cysts in the skin and gills.
- Internal lesions: cysts on the liver, heart,
kidney, spleen or any other organs.


Family Myxobolidae
Genus Myxobolus
Gill, intestine Pathogenicity
The effects of the Myxobolus infection
depend on its severity and location of the
cysts.
Gill: heavy infections lead to occlusion of
branchial circulation, necrosis and
respiratory dysfunction.
Intestine: myolytic changes were
widespread in the intestinal wall.
Heavy infection of subcutaneous tissues
and gills caused weight loss and lethargic.
Feeds on the fish cartilage and the infection
can cause skeletal deformities, a blackened
tail and whirling behaviour.
Because the fish cannot feed normally and
more vulnerable to predation, whirling
disease can be fatal.

Family Myxobolidae
Genus Thelohanellus
Gills,
musculature,
subcutaneous
connective
tissue,
intestinal
wall, wall of
No treatment. All infected
fish must be removed and
destroyed under hygienic
condition to prevent
spreading after the fish
died.
Control water intake
is most effective
way of intercepting
the spores.
Control the water
intake by using
special filters.
gall bladder,
liver and
kidney.

Infected or suspect
ponds should be
disinfected by
draining and
treatment with
quicklime (CaO) and
the pond should be
left to dry for
several days after
treatment.


PHYLUM MICROSPORA
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
MICROSPORA No suitable treatment. All
infected fish must be
removed and destroyed
under hygienic condition
to prevent spreading after
the fish died.

quarantine and
examination of fish
before introduce to
any type of
aquaculture




PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES
TREMATODE
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
Class
Monogenea
Monopisthocotylea
- Genus Gyrodactylus
- Genus Dactylogyrus
- Genus
Neobenedenia
Polyopisthocotylea

gills, skin
and fins
Presence of gill flukes on the gills and body
Difficulty in breathing
swimming in jerky motions
gill hyperplasia and increased mucus
long periods of rest at the bottom of the pond
with clamped fins
reddening of some focal areas
can create entry points for secondary
bacterial infections, which in turn can lead to
gill diseases and ulcers

Formalin bath.
- Use 2-4 ml of
Formalin in 10 Litres
of water, preferably
in a separate
quarantine tank, for
30 minutes. If fish
show signs of
distress stop the
treatment.
Freshwater bath
(marine monogeneans
only)
Salt bath (freshwater
monogeneans only)

Fish should be
quarantined and
prophylactically
treated before
stocking.
Disinfected the
pond before
stocked with new
fish.

Class
digenea
Internal
organ,
under
scales,
skin, gill
and
visceral
White grub - Posthodiplostomum minimum
encysting in the viscera and Bolbophorous sp
encysting in muscle.
Black grub Uvulifer ambloplitis and
Crassiphiala bulboglossa.
Yellow grub Clinostomum marginatum.
Diplostomatid eye infections leading to
blindness caused by Diplostomum sp
metacercariae. Adult stage in gull (bird).



Disease signs / symptoms:

Adult flukes does not cause much damage
Eradicate snails - Use
quicklime 125 - 150
kg/acre pond
Molluscicide
Bayluscide 0.3 mg /
litre water.
Elektric current:
cercaria in water can
be killed by electric
currents
Adult trematodes in
gut lumen anti-
trematode
-Treatment by food
additives (e.g. adding

But fingerlings can die if attacked by large
numbers of cercariae .
Eggs can occlude blood vessels causing
thrombosis
Leading to fatality

Clinical symptoms
Fingerlings congregate near water inlet ,
erratic swimming and gasping movements
Chronic symptoms include abdominal dropsy


di- n-butyltin oxide to
the diet, 3% by food
weight.


NEMATHELMINTHES
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
NEMATODE Disease sign:
Distended abdomen
Can see the nematode under the
skin or in muscleand caused
haemorrhage. (e.g. Eustrongylides
sp).
Can see the nematode
Protruding out from the anus and
caused haemorrhage.(e.g.
Camallanus sp).

Anthelminthics can be
used as food additives
to remove adult
nematodes or larvae
from the intestinal tract.
(Limited effectiveness).
Quarantine
Chlorofom to eliminate
copepods as a control
against Philometra.
Masoten (1-2ppm for 10
days).

Infected ponds can
be cleaned by drying
and/or treatment
with quicklime to
destroy nematode
eggs
Phylum
Acanthocephala
Pathogenic effects of Acanthocephala
are due to attachment of the parasite.
Some Acanthocephala produce toxin
Control the
water supply and
potential
through the pores present in the
proboscis hooks and it will cause
inflammatory response.
There are the possible degree s of
severity:
1. The proboscis penetrates only the
intestinal epithelium.
2. Penetration reaches the
subepithelial connective tissu layers
but fails to reach the underlying
muscle. The response is largely
confined to granular cell infiltration.
3. The proboscis hooks into the muscle
layer of the intestine. The reaction
involves fibroblast infiltration and
the formation of fibrous nodules in
the wall.
4. The proboscis perforates the gut wall
and often becomes surrounded by a
fibroblastic, multi-layered
collagenous capsule.
Disease signs
emaciation
lethargy
Anemia
death with a marked infection

intermediate
hosts.
Quarantine the
new fish
Treat the pond
with quicklime
provides a good
disinfectant
procedure.
Methods
recommended to
treat the infected
fish (by
Acanthocephala)
are similar to
treat fish
infected by
cestode.

Phylum
Cestode
Family Dilepididae
Ligula intestinalis

Clinical signs
Distended abdomen
Fish less active and refused to feed
Intestinal wall becomes thin and
transparent
Fish internal organs are swollen,

sometimes smaller and bleeding
Intestinal wall becomes thin and
transparent
Hemoglobin decrease to 28%


CRUSTACEAN
Parasite Target of
tissue
Pathogenicity and signs of disease Treatment Prevention
Family Ergasilidae


Family Lernaeidae Cause ulcers due to attachment
Fish becomes weak
Damaged tissues are muscle and skin
inflammation, ulceration and prone to
bacterial and fungal infections.
Fish lose weight.

Treat with potassium
permanganate 10 mg/l
for 30 minutes
NaCl 3-5% solution, dip
bath.
Inlet water free of
infection
Quarantine the new
fish
Treat water
Disinfection of ponds
to be stocked with
new fish.
Prevention of entry of
possible carriers, such
as frogs and their
larvae stages or
infected fish.
Subclass Branchiura skin The parasite is
effectively removed by
the trichlorfon at
- 50-100 ppm for 30 min
- 200 ppm for 20 min
Eradicate wild fish
Dry and lime ponds

Order Isopoda Gill,
mouth,
skin
Damage the host tissue
When present in the gill cavity, isopods

can seriously reduce the respiratory
surface by causing atrophy of the gills
on which they press.
Isopods in the mouth cavity prevent
normal feeding.
Cause emaciation
Mortality