Author
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Mitchell, Andrew |
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Submitted to: Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2006 Publication Date: 3/27/2006 Citation: Mitchell, A.J. 2006. The big belly blues [abstract]. Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop. p. 62. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Abdominal enlargements (big belly) occur for several reasons: when host tissues proliferate, when air bladders over-inflate, when fluids fill the body cavity, when egg production becomes much greater than normal, when the stomach becomes over-filled with food, and when invading organisms grow or multiply within the body cavity. Some causes for abdominal enlargement in fish have not been determined while others have defined etiologies or associated pathogens including several caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Five parasites are associated with abdominal enlargements in warmwater cultured fish; these are a myxosporean called the kidney bloater -- Hofferellus cyprini, a nematode -- Eustrongylides sp., the visceral tapeworm -- Ligula intestinalis, the Asian tapeworm -- Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, and the white grub -- Posthodiplostomum minimum. These five parasites will be discussed with emphasis placed on the Asian tapeworm and the white grub. Comments on control measures for these latter two parasites will be given. |
