STUDIES ON ICHTHYOPHONUS DISEASE AMONG MARINE AND FRESHWATER FISHES WITH TRIAL TO ITS CONTROL

Abstract

he present study was occurred on a total number of 600 marine and freshwater shes (300 from each). The results of clinical investigation revealed that, some aturally infected fish did not have any clinical abnormalities while other suffered rom darkening of skin, exophthalmia and cloudy eyes and deformity of bone and kull. P.M. ledsions were were present of white nodules in liver, kidney, heart, spleen nd intestine. I. lwferi, the causative agent of lchthophonosis was isolated on Sabouraud's dextrose agar plate+ I %calf serum and in Minimum Essential medium 10 % fetal calf serum from infected organs at ph 3, 5, 7, 9. The percentage of solation I. hoferi from all examined fish wa,62.16 % and higher prevalence in winter season and heavy weight fishes while lowest incidence in summer season. The prevalence in cultured and wild freshwater fishes were 80 % and 40 % respectively. The result of experimental infecti on i nvestigated that the experimentally infected via mouth or by intraperitonal rout or by bathing with infected MEM -I 0 or by using heavily infected fishes, showing signs of diseases and mortidity rate reached 70, 90, 40 and 30 % respectivelly. This histopathological examination of internal organs of C. gariepinus infected with I. lwferi revealed prescence of granulomas which strongly Periodic Acid Schied positive.