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Further studies of an epizootic of perch Perca fluviatilis L., of uncertain aetiology
Author(s) -
BUCKE D.,
CAWLEY G. D.,
CRAIG J. F.,
PICKERING A. D.,
WILLOUGHBY L. G.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2761.1979.tb00172.x
Subject(s) - perch , epizootic , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , population , etiology , zoology , fishery , virus , virology , demography , pathology , medicine , sociology
. The geographical distribution of an epizootic of perch Perca fluviatilis L., characterized by severe epidermal lesions and marked fish kills, is described. A wide variety of fungal and bacterial infections were found in diseased fish but the evidence suggests that they were not the primary cause of this condition. The primary pathogenic agent (assuming that it exists) or predisposing environmental factor has yet to be discovered. The severity of this disease is illustrated by monitoring the course of the epizootic in the perch population in Windermere. All age groups of fish were affected during the course of one year although the fish at spawning time appeared to be particularly vulnerable. There was a dramatic increase in the perch mortality in Windermere in 1976 and it is estimated that over 98% of the adult population (over 1 million fish) died in that year.