Parasitic Infections in Freshwater Ornamental Fish in Sri Lanka
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DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS Vol. 54: 157–162, 2003 Published March 31 Dis Aquat Org Parasitic infections in freshwater ornamental fish in Sri Lanka I. D. S. I. P. Thilakaratne1,*, G. Rajapaksha2, A. Hewakopara3, R. P. V. J. Rajapakse4, A. C. M. Faizal1 1Veterinary Research Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka 2Veterinary Investigation Centre, Welisera, Sri Lanka 3Animal Quarantine Station, Colombo, Sri Lanka 4Department of Para Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka ABSTRACT: A total of 1520 ornamental fish of 13 species from 26 export farms in Sri Lanka were collected between October 1999 and March 2000 and examined for parasites. Fish species examined were guppy Poecilia reticulata, goldfish Carassius auratus, platy Xiphophorus maculatus, molly Poe- cilia sphenops, angel Pterophyllum scalare, swordtail Xiphophorus helleri, tetras Hyphessobrycon species, barbs Capeota and Puntius spp., gourami Colisa sp., carp Cyprinus carpio, fighters Betta spe- lendens and others (Brachydanio and Astronotus spp.). Nine species of monogenean trematodes (Dactylogyrus extensus, Dactylogyrus cf. extensus, D. vastator, Dactylogyrus cf. vastator Dactylo- gyrus spp., Gyrodactylus turnbulli, G. katherineri, Gyrodactylus cf. katherineri, Gyrodactylus spp.), 7 protozoan species (Trichodina nigra, Trichodina spp., Tetrahymena corlissi, T. pyriformis, Ichthyo- phthirius multifiliis, Ichthyobodo necator, Piscinoodinium spp.), 3 species of copepod arthropods (Lernaea cyprinacea, Ergasilus ceylonensis, Argulus foliaceus), 1 metacercarial stage of a digenean trematode (Centrocestus spp.) and 1 nematode (Capillaria spp.) were identified. Parasites were found in fish from 23 of the 26 farms with an overall prevalence of parasitism in 45.3% of fish. The variation in farm prevalence among different parasites was significant (p < 0.01). Fish infection rates with monogenean trematodes, protozoans, copepod crustaceans, digenean trematodes and nematodes were 28.3, 18.4, 4.8, 0.8 and 0.4%, respectively. In all, 50 out of 590 (50/590) guppies were infected with Tetrahymena, compared with 13/930 for all other species, which is a statistically significant result (p < 0.01). Similarly, 13/44 and 18/44 carp were infected with Argulus foliaceus and Lernaea cyprinacea, compared with 7/1476 and 15/1476, respectively, for all other species combined (p < 0.01). Capillaria spp. was found only in guppies (4/590) and angel fish (3/92) while Centrocestus spp. was found in goldfish (12/153) only. KEY WORDS: Parasite · Prevalence · Ornamental fish · Tropics Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher INTRODUCTION resulting depletion and extinction of natural stocks (Andrews 1990), demand for cultured freshwater orna- During the last 2 decades, ornamental fish export has mental fish is increasing. Although the freshwater emerged as an important activity generating foreign ornamental fish industry in Sri Lanka has tremendous exchange in Sri Lanka, with over 300 million Sri potential for development, one of the weaknesses Lankan Rupees (~US$35 000) earned annually (Weer- observed is the lack of understanding of the disease akoon 1998). Sri Lanka has a reputation of exporting situation (Mee 1993). high quality marine ornamental fish. As importing Parasitism is one of the most impacting problems for countries have imposed regulations to prevent import cultured fish (Scholz 1999). Fish in intensive culture of ornamental fish caught from the wild, in view of are continuously affected by environmental fluctua- *Emails: [email protected] and [email protected] © Inter-Research 2003 · www.int-res.com 158 Dis Aquat Org 54: 157–162, 2003 tions and management practices such as handling, provinces of Sri Lanka were visited during the period crowding, transport, drug treatment, undernourish- from October 1999 to March 2000. These farms repre- ment, fluctuating temperatures, and poor water qual- sented 87% of registered exporters who accounted for ity. All of these factors can impose considerable stress >95% of total ornamental fish exports in 1999. At each on the homeostatic mechanisms of fish, rendering farm, tanks/ponds were numbered and random sam- them susceptible to a wide variety of parasites (Suba- pling was used to choose tanks/ponds (Fowler & singhe 1997). Cohen 1994) from which to select fish for examination. Besides direct losses caused by mortality, parasites A total of 1520 fish of 13 species (Table 1) were may have a considerable impact on the growth and selected in this manner. Numbers of fish selected var- behavior of fish (Scholz 1999), and consequently ied from 16 to 195 per farm, with species and growth reduce farm efficiency and production, which in turn stage dependent on their availability on the day of col- increases costs, and reduces profit and impacts on for- lection. Guppies were the smallest fish collected (1 to eign exchange earnings. 3 cm long) whereas carp were the largest (3 to 15 cm). The present study was undertaken to estimate the Live ornamental fish were taken to the laboratory in prevalence of selected important parasites associated polythene bags filled with oxygenated pond water. with the production of ornamental fish for export in Sri Each farm was visited once only and information on Lanka. farm management was also recorded. Parasitological techniques. At the laboratory, fish were initially examined for the presence of any para- MATERIALS AND METHODS sites or lesions visible to the naked eye. Next, wet mounts of scrapings (of body surface mucus from Study area. The study was carried out in the Western behind the pectoral fin adjacent to the dorsal fin and and Northwestern Provinces of the country, where operculum, excised gills, lesions, and intestines) of almost all of the ornamental fish export farms are freshly killed fish were examined for parasites using a located. Some of these exporters partly depend on compound light microscope at ×10 and ×40 magnifica- small-scale grower farms situated in nearby rural areas tion. Use of fresh specimens facilitates the visualization for a continuous supply of ornamental fish, which helps of motile parasites (Post 1987, Southgate 1994, Wild- to keep costs down. In 1999, there were 30 registered goose 1998). Specimens were then preserved in 10% ornamental fish exporters in the country. The area of buffered formalin and 70% ethanol for storage prior to freshwater ornamental fish farms varied from 0.5 to further identification, using keys described by Yam- 10 ha in size, and monthly production varied from aguti (1963), Kirtisinghe (1964), Fernando & Hanek 40 000 to >500 000 fish. (1971, 1973), Elliot (1973), Cheng (1986), Liguo et al. Ornamental fish management. Ornamental fish are (1991), Cone (1995), Dickerson & Dawe (1995), Lom raised in cement, glass or fiberglass tanks and mud (1995) and Hoffman (1999). Representative specimens ponds, with export producers usually maintaining their were lodged in the Zoology Department of the own breeding stock. More than 75% of the exports are National Museum, Colombo, Sri Lanka. varieties of guppy. Guppies are viviparous and 1 d old Data analysis. Prevalence rates were calculated for larvae are collected and managed in separate tanks. each recovered genus of the parasite. Where there After ca. 3 wk, the juveniles are sexed and separated in were sufficient numbers, chi-square tests were used to growing units. At 2 to 3 mo, depending on the length of compare prevalence using the computerized statistical the fish, guppies are ready to be marketed and are package, Minitab release 10.1 (Minitab). quarantined for a period of 1 wk prior to export. Other fish species are grown for longer periods before export. Feeding regimens vary with stage of growth. Feed RESULTS includes brine shrimp Artemia salina L., tubifex worms and formulated fish feed. Most of the farmers use Identification of parasites methylene blue (2 ppm) and salt before transferring the fish to the growing units and at the beginning of A list of parasites identified from different body loca- the pre-export quarantine period as a routine hygiene tions in different fish species is shown in Table 2. measure. Before being exported, representative sam- Eighteen parasite species were found comprising 9 ples of fish are examined by an Animal Quarantine species of monogenean parasites, 7 species of proto- Officer of the Department of Animal Production and zoans, 3 species of copepod arthropods, 1 round worm Health; only healthy fish are recommended for export. and 1 metacercarial stage of a digenean trematode. Of Study design. Twenty-six registered ornamental fish these, 15 were identified to species level with the export farms in the Western and Northwestern balance identified to genus level only (Table 2). Thilakaratne et al.: Ornamental fish parasites in Sri Lanka 159 Table 1. Species and number of ornamental fish examined, number of different parasites recovered in different species of fish and the prevalence of parasites and number of farms infected Species of ornamental fish No. No. Parasite species examined infected Dactylogyrus Gyrodactylus Trichodina Tetrahymena Ichthyophthirius Ichthyobodo PiscinoodiniumLernaea Ergasilus Argulus Capillaria Centrocestus Guppy Poecilia reticulata 590 262 91 63 42 50 0 13 0 0 14 0 4 0 Goldfish Carassius auratus 153 94 47 35 7 3 0 0 9 7 2 4 0 12 Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 143 35 15 7 11 0 5 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 Molly Poecilia sphenops 106 65 33 9 22 5 0 5 0 6 0 0 0 0 Barbs