Possible involvement of Artemia as live diet in the transmission of cryptosporidiosis in cultured fish.
The viability of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts ingested by Artemia franciscana metanauplii was evaluated using two fluorogenic vital dyes. There was no significant difference (p = 0.09) between the viability of oocysts maintained in saline (control) and those recovered from the digestive tract of the microcrustacean 24 h after ingestion (95 vs 90% viable oocysts). The results suggest that Artemia, used as a life food in fish larviculture, may act as a vehicle for transmission of piscine cryptosporidiosis caused by Cryptosporidium molnari and Cryptosporidium scophthalmi.
Méndez-Hermida
F
F
Laboratorio de Parasitología, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Gómez-Couso
H
H
Ares-Mazás
E
E
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D001156:Artemia / Q000469:parasitology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004032:Diet; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000254:growth & development