Author
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Mitchell, Andrew |
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Submitted to: American Fishery Society (Fish Health Section) Proceedings
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2003 Publication Date: 7/14/2003 Citation: MITCHELL, A.J. BOTHRIOCEPHALUS. SUGGESTED PROCEDURES FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN FIN FISH AND SHELLFISH PATHOGENS. Fish Health Section, AMERICAN FISHERY SOCIETY. Blue Book 5TH EDITION. 2003. v.2. p. xii-1 - xii-7. Interpretive Summary: The Asian tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) is an important problem for producers raising cyprinid fish primarily because many states restrict the importation of fish with this tapeworm. Besides being a problem associated with fish shipments, the worm can kill fish fry and weaken or inhibit the growth of infected fish. The worm also infects wild fish populations including some federally endangered fish species. This article gives the geographic and host range of the tapeworm along with some life cycle, seasonal, and temperature information useful in understanding the survival and spread of the worm. Information on behavioral, internal and external disease signs are also given. However, the main thrust is the diagnosis and identification of the organism with a particular emphasis on the confirmatory diagnosis and the detection of sub-clinical infections. Figures and a key are given to aid in the identification of the worm. Technical Abstract: The Asian tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi is an exotic parasite of fish that probably came into the United States with the importation of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella from Europe. It primarily infects minnows and carps (Cyprinidae) but also is found in fish from several other families. This worm has spread from the southeastern US to a number of states northeast and west and can kill or inhibit the growth of fish. The stocking of fish, known to have this parasite, into the waters many states is prohibited. This chapter gives information on the known geographic range of the parasite, how the fish become infected, and the temperature range in which infection can occur. Information on disease signs, diagnostic procedures for the detection of the parasite in diseased fish, and procedures for subclinical detection of the tapeworm is also given. Additionally, information is provided that gives procedures for transportation and storage of sample, figures to help in the recognition of the pathogen, a key for separation of similar species, and a list of references. |
