Premium
Environmental and physiological conditions affecting Tetrahymena sp. infection in guppies, Poecilia reticulata Peters
Author(s) -
Pimenta Leibowitz M,
Ariav R,
Zilberg D
Publication year - 2005
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.1365-2761.2005.00658.x
Subject(s) - poecilia , biology , guppy , tetrahymena , oreochromis , tilapia , aquaculture , poeciliidae , oreochromis mossambicus , xiphophorus , parasite hosting , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , veterinary medicine , fishery , medicine , genetics , world wide web , computer science
Parasitic infections caused by Tetrahymena sp. constitute a serious problem in guppies, Poecilia reticulata . Tetrahymena was isolated from skin lesions of naturally infected guppies in a commercial aquaculture farm, cultured in vitro and used in subsequent experimental infections. In addition to guppies, angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare , platyfish, Xiphophorus maculates , and neontetra, Paracheirodon innesi , were susceptible, whereas tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) was resistant. The ciliate had a high affinity for dead fish. Skin abrasion did not affect the infection, but fish with gas bubble disease exhibited a significantly higher infection than non‐affected fish. Infection was significantly higher when fish were exposed to high levels of ammonia, high organic load and low water temperatures. Under shipment conditions, infection was significantly elevated. Full recovery was achieved at a low fish density. Results suggest that poor environmental and physiological conditions enhance infection with Tetrahymena sp.