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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159475
Title: CENTROCESTIASIS (GILL TREMATODE DISEASE)

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item GOODWIN, ANDREW - UAPB

Submitted to: American Fisheries Society Book Series
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2004
Publication Date: 12/21/2004
Citation: Mitchell, A.J., Goodwin, A.E. 2004. Centrocestiasis (gill trematode disease). FHS Blue Book: Suggested Procedures for the Detection and Identification of Certain Finfish and Shellfish Pathogens. AFS-FHS (American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section), Bethesda, Maryland. American Fisheries Society Book Series.

Interpretive Summary: Information on a serious trematode that infests the gills of fish is given as a chapter in an American Fisheries Society, Fish Health Section, diagnostic methods manual called the Blue Book. The trematode Centrocestus formosanus causes serious losses on tropical fish farms in Florida, has negatively impacted wild populations of fish in the Comal River, Texas, can under experimental conditions infect most US farm raised fish including channel catfish, golden shiners and hybrid striped bass and is spreading across the United States. The chapter includes information on the name and description of the trematode, the hosts involved in the trematode's three life stages, the larval stages of the parasite, biology of the parasite, environmental restrictions affecting the hosts and the parasite, disease signs associated with parasite infestation, behavioral abnormalities in the fish host, and diagnostic methodology to detect the organism's presence.

Technical Abstract: Centrocestiasis is a gill trematode disease of numerous cultured and wild fish species that is caused by a digenetic trematode Centrocestus formosanus. Information on this parasite is given in a chapter in the American Fisheries Society Blue Book for diagnostic procedure. This chapter contains background information on the name of disease and etiological agent, the known geographical range and host species of the disease, and the biology and epizootiology of the disease. It keys on behavioral changes associated with the disease, external gross signs, internal signs, and histopathological changes associated with the disease along with the presumptive and confirmatory diagnosis of the disease. Procedures for detecting subclinical infections, for determining prior exposure to the etiological agent and for transportation and storage of samples to ensure maximum viability and survival or recognition of the etiological are also discussed. Information contained in this chapter will serve as a standard for background and diagnostic information on this important trematode.