Diseases of White Sea Bream (Diplodus sargus L.) Reared in Experimental and Commercial Conditions in Greece
A bacteriological and parasitological study of the white sea bream, Diplodus sargus L., was conducted as this species is a potential candidate for aquaculture in Mediterranean countries. The study comprised fish reared in commercial cages (2 farms) located in different geographical localities, as well as fish reared experimentally in cages located in a natural enclosed lagoon. Fish were examined in the fresh state by means of smears from all internal and external organs and by histology. Microbiology was also performed at all sites. Mortality was low (12%) at farm 1 (Argolida), while at farm 2 (Korinth) and the lagoon it reached 32% and 42%, respectively. Microbial infections were low in prevalence and these concerned Vibrio anguillarum, V. alginoliticus and Pseudomonas sp. The parasitic fauna comprised external Monogenea, Digenea and internal Myxosporida. Monogenea were present throughout the year at all locations, but at low intensity. Three species of Myxosporida were recorded in this study: Myxobolus sp. in the kidneys, Kudoa sp. in the musculature and Enteromyxum leei in the intestine. Nephrocalcinosis was found in all sampled fish and this was suspected to be related to Myxobolus sp. infections. The study showed that D. sargus reared under captive conditions is prone to several parasitic and bacterial infections. Amongst them the most important in terms of pathology were the myxosporeans (Myxobolus sp. and Kudoa sp). These may play a role in the mortality observed, thus making this fish culture questionable in terms of cost effectiveness.
Diseases of White Sea Bream (Diplodus sargus L.) Reared in Experimental and Commercial Conditions in Greece
A bacteriological and parasitological study of the white sea bream, Diplodus sargus L., was conducted as this species is a potential candidate for aquaculture in Mediterranean countries. The study comprised fish reared in commercial cages (2 farms) located in different geographical localities, as well as fish reared experimentally in cages located in a natural enclosed lagoon. Fish were examined in the fresh state by means of smears from all internal and external organs and by histology. Microbiology was also performed at all sites. Mortality was low (12%) at farm 1 (Argolida), while at farm 2 (Korinth) and the lagoon it reached 32% and 42%, respectively. Microbial infections were low in prevalence and these concerned Vibrio anguillarum, V. alginoliticus and Pseudomonas sp. The parasitic fauna comprised external Monogenea, Digenea and internal Myxosporida. Monogenea were present throughout the year at all locations, but at low intensity. Three species of Myxosporida were recorded in this study: Myxobolus sp. in the kidneys, Kudoa sp. in the musculature and Enteromyxum leei in the intestine. Nephrocalcinosis was found in all sampled fish and this was suspected to be related to Myxobolus sp. infections. The study showed that D. sargus reared under captive conditions is prone to several parasitic and bacterial infections. Amongst them the most important in terms of pathology were the myxosporeans (Myxobolus sp. and Kudoa sp). These may play a role in the mortality observed, thus making this fish culture questionable in terms of cost effectiveness.
___
- Koumoundouros, G., Divanach, P., Kentouri, M.: The effect of rearing conditions on development of saddleback syndrome and caudal fin deformities in Dentex dentex L. Aquaculture, 2001; 200: 285-304.
- Gomez, S.: Nephrocalcinosis in Mediterranean cultured white bream Diplodus sargus L. Bull. Eur. Assoc. Fish Pathol., 2000; 20: 40-42. 3. Sfakianakis, D.G., Koumoundouros, G., Anezaki, L., Divanach, P., Kentouri, M.: Development of a saddleback-like syndrome in reared white seabream Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758). Aquaculture, 2003; 217: 673-676.
- Rigos, G., Christophilogiannis, P., Yiagnisi, M., Andriopoulou, A., Koutsodimou, M., Nengas, I., Alexis, M.: Myxosporean infections in Greek mariculture. Aquacult. Int., 1999; 7: 361-364
- Athanassopoulou F., Prapas, Th., Rodger, H.: Diseases of Puntazzo puntazzo C. in marine aquaculture systems in Greece. J. Fish Dis., 1999; 22: 215-218.
- Rigos, G., Grigorakis, K., Christophilogiannis, P., Nengas, I., Alexis, M.: Ceratomyxa spp. (myxosporea) infections in cultured common dentex from Greece. Bull. Eur. Assoc. Fish Pathol., 1997; 17: 174-176. 7. Alvarez-Pellitero, P., Sitja-Bobadilla, A.: Pathology of myxosporea in marine fish culture. Dis. Aquat. Org., 1993; 17: 229-238.
- Diamant, A., Lom, J., Dykova, I.: Myxidium leei n. sp. a pathogenic myxosporean of cultured sea bream Sparus aurata. Dis. Aquat. Org., 1994; 20: 137-141. 9. Papathanassiou, G.: Parasites of wild Sparidae in Pagasitikos Bay, MSc Thesis, University of Thessaly, Volos., 2004.
- Mladineo, I.: Myxosporidean infections in Adriatic cage-reared fish. Bull. Eur. Assoc. Fish Pathol., 2003; 23: 113-123.
- Athanassopoulou, F.: A study of the Myxosporean infections of R. rutilus L. with special reference to Myxidium rhodei Leger, 1905 in the renal tissue.1990; PhD Thesis, University of Stirling, Stirling.
- Roberts, R.H. (ed.): Fish Pathology. Baillere Tindall, Edinburgh. 1989.
- Euzet, L., Noisi, D.: Microcotyle chrysophrii Van Beneden et Hesse,1863 (Monogenea, Microcotylidae) parasite du teleosteen Sparus aurata: precisions morpho-anatomiques sur l’adulte et l’oncomiracidium. Vie et Milieu, 1978; XXVIII.
- Ortigosa, M., Esteve, C., Pujalte, M.J.: Vibrio species in seawater and mussels: abundance and numerical taxonomy. Syst. Appl. Microbiol., 1989; 12: 316-325.
- Alsina, M., Blanch, A.R.: A set of keys for biochemical identification of environmental Vibrio species. J. Appl. Bacteriol., 1994; 76: 79-85.
- Bakopoulos, V., Adams, A., Richards, R.H.: Some biochemical properties and antibiotic sensitivities of Pasteurella piscidda isolated in Greece and comparison with strains from Japan, France and Italy. J. Fish Dis., 1995; 18: 1-7.
- Drury R.A., Wallington, E.A. (eds.): ‘Carleton’s Histological Techniques’. Oxford University Press. 5thEdition, Oxford. 1980.
- Noisi, D., Euzet, L.: Microhabitat branchial de deux Microcotylidae parasites de Diplodus sargus. Rev. Iberia Parasitol., 1979; 39: 81-93.
- Crisafi, E., Genovese, L., La Ferla, R., Maugeri, T.L., Zaccone, R.: Preliminary microbiological investigations on Diplodus sargus specimens in intensive rearing. Microbiol. Bologna, 1986; 9: 321- 331.
- Mulchachy, M.F., Collins, N., Mcauliffe, T.: Nephrocalcinosis in freshwater and saltwater farmed rainbow trout in Ireland. In: Acuigroup (Eds). Fish Diseases, Fourth CORPAQ Session, ATP, Madrid, Spain, 1984; 53-158.
- Diamant, A., Harpaz, S., Traub, W.: Nephrocalcinosis and urolithiasis in cultured gilthead sea bream. Diseases of fish and shellfish. Fish Culture Research Institute, Szarvas, Hungary, 1991
- Athanassopoulou, F., Karagouni, E., Dotsika, E., Ragias, V., Tavla, J., Christofilloyanis, P., Vatsos, I.: Efficacy and toxicity of orally administrated anti-coccidial drugs for innovative treatments of Myxobolus sp. infection in sharpsnout sea bream Puntazzo puntazzo. Dis. Aquat. Org., 2004; 62: 217-226.
- Jones, T.C., Hunt, R.D., King, N.W.: Mineral deposits and pigments. In: Veterinary Pathology, 6th edition, Williams & Wilkins, Maryland, USA, 1997; p.57-58.
- Houli, N: Filariasis a report of three cases. Ann. Saudi Med., 2002; 22: 77-79.
- Le-Breton, A., Marques, A.: Occurrence of an histozoic Myxidium in two marine cultured species: Puntazzo puntazzo and Pagrus major. Bull. Eur. Assoc. Fish Pathol., 1995; 15: 210-212.
- Moran, J.D.W., Whitaker, D.J., Kent, M.L.: A review of the myxosporean genus Kudoa Meglitsch, 1947, and its impact on the international aquaculture industry and commercial fisheries. Aquaculture, 1999; 172: 163-195.
- Paperna, I.: Kudoa infection in the glomeruli, mesentery and peritoneum of cultured Sparus aurata L. J. Fish Dis., 1982; 5: 539-543.
- Arfara, S., Bozzetta, E., Prearo, M., Ghittino, C.: Cases of kudoasis in cultured juvenile gilthead sea bream. III Convegno Nazionale di Societa Italiana di Pathologia Itticcha, 1995; 7: 12- 17.