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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120040
Title: EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF AN EXOTIC HETEROPHYID TREMATODE CENTROCESTUS FORMOSANUS IN FOUR AQUACULTURE FISHES.

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item GOODWIN, ANDREW - UAPB
item SALMON, MELISSA - SOUTHWEST TX STATE UNIV
item BRANDT, THOMAS - USDI,USFWS, NAT FISH HAT

Submitted to: North American Journal of Aquaculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/6/2001
Publication Date: 1/1/2002
Citation: MITCHELL, A.J., GOODWIN, A.E., SALMON, M.J., BRANDT, T.M. EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF AN EXOTIC HETEROPHYID TREMATODE CENTROCESTUS FORMOSANUS IN FOUR AQUACULTURE FISHES.. NORTH AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUACULTURE. 2002. v.64. p.55-59.

Interpretive Summary: A parasite infecting the gills of wild fish in Texas was evaluated to determine if it had the potential to infect four key propagated fish species raised in the Mississippi Delta regions of Arkansas and Mississippi. Infections with this parasite, a digenetic trematode called Centrocestus formosanus, were experimentally established in the channel catfish, fathead minnow, golden shiner, and sunshine bass. The parasite was found not only to cause infection but also to cause significant damage to the gills and therefore considered a potential risk to the production of these four fish species. The danger this parasite imposes on this aquacultural industry is largely dependent on how far the introduced snail host extends its range northward. It is not known if the exotic snail, Melanoides tuberculata (a tropical freshwater snail) that carries this parasite and transmits it to fish, can survive the cooler winter temperatures (above latitude 32) where the majority of the four fish species are raised. The snail, already established in the southern tier of the catfish and baitfish production region (below latitude 32), likely could pass the parasite to propagated species in this, the warmest region for fish culture in the United States.

Technical Abstract: Centrocestus formosanus, a digenetic trematode that was recently found infecting wild fish in Texas, was evaluated to determine if it could infect four propagated warmwater fish species. Cercariae of this trematode established an experimental infection in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, sunshine bass Morone chrysops female X Morone saxatilis male, golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas and fathead minnows Pimephales promelas. The trematodes were embedded along the gill filament cartilage. Cyst production, cartilage displacement, and hyperplasia of lamellar epithelium were observed in wet mounts of sunshine bass and fathead minnow gills. These pathological changes also occurred in golden shiners and catfish but appeared to be delayed and less pronounced. Histological examination showed the parasites were encased in cartilage with distorted areas of filament cartilage. Because this trematode has the ability to infect and produce severe lesions experimentally, it may pose a serious threat to commercial aquaculture and wild fish in the southern United States.