title: Cryptobia iubilans infection in juvenile discus.
abstract: Four commercial producers of discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) were found to have fish infested with the flagellate Cryptobia iubilans. Affected fish had granulomatous gastritis, and many also had granulomatous disease of other organs. The parasite had to be differentiated from the related flagellates Spironucleus spp, which induce different lesions. Transmission electron microscopy was found to be useful in detecting and identifying the parasite. Morbidity and mortality rates in the various fish populations appeared to be linked to a number of variables, including water quality, presence of other parasites and bacteria, diet, species, size, and age of the fish, and optimization of husbandry appeared to be important in alleviating the severity of disease. Metronidazole was not effective for treatment of C iubilans, but bath treatments with dimetridazole (80 mg/L for 24 hours, repeated daily for 3 days) or 2-amino-5-nitrothiazol (10 mg/L for 24 hours, repeated daily for 3 days) may be useful in decreasing the prevalence of infestation.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Ruskin, FL 33570, USA.
authors.forename: Roy P E
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Yanong
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francis-Floyd
authors.forename: RuthEllen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.forename: Ilze
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berzins
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Poynton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017756:Aquaculture; D023681:Cichlids / Q000469:parasitology*; D004131:Dimetridazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D016830:Kinetoplastida / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000662:veterinary; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D004131:Dimetridazole