Fish Pathology and Parasitology

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 9182

Special Issue Editors

AQUOS-Aquatic Organisms Health Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
Interests: fish pathology; fish parasites; treatment of fish pathogens; immunology; dietary supplementation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
VAXXINOVA Brazil/AQUOS-Aquatic Organisms Health Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
Interests: fish pathology; health of aquatic organisms; fish farming

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fish parasitology is a very well-studied area, but few studies address the pathologies and consequences of parasites in fish host tissues. The presence of parasites, both in farmed and wild fish, can cause significant losses and alterations in the host/parasite/environment relationship, including those of social and economic importance in aquatic organisms.

Animals publishes original research results, including in all fields covered by its Guest Editors, ranging from knowledge on parasite diversity, including the fact that some of them can be used as bioindicators of environmental quality, to the use of important tools to determine fish health status when animals are exposed to different situations, such as histopathology, immune responses, hematology, oxidative stress, and gene expression.

This Special Issue aims to encourage researchers to submit manuscripts approaching fish pathology, parasitology, fish parasites as bioindicators, and histopathological, hematological, and immune responses in parasitized fish. However, molecular studies on the identification of parasites, as well as alternative and traditional treatments of fish diseases, will also be evaluated.

The journal prioritizes full articles as the primary publication format, reporting original and highly significant findings. However, it also allows for the submission of concise reviews, commentaries, registered reports, and case studies focused on strategically important issues. We also emphasize that due to the multidisciplinary nature of this field, contributors must be clear and non-experts in the specific subjects of their publications.

Prof. Dr. Mauricio Laterça Martins
Dr. Gabriela Tomas Jerônimo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • fish diseases
  • parasites as bioindicators
  • host response
  • histopathology
  • clinical signs
  • treatment
  • hematology
  • taxonomy
  • ecology fish parasites

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2120 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Salinomycin’s Potential to Treat Microcotyle sebastis in Korean Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)
by Won-Sik Woo, Sang Hee Shim, Gyoungsik Kang, Kyung-Ho Kim, Ha-Jeong Son, Min-Young Sohn, Seungjin Lee, Jaekyeong Kim, Jung-Soo Seo, Mun-Gyeong Kwon, Do-Hyung Kim and Chan-Il Park
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3233; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203233 - 17 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
Aquaculture, a crucial sector of the global food industry, faces a myriad of issues due to parasitic invasions. One such parasite, Microcotyle sebastis, which afflicts Korean rockfish in South Korea, has a significant economic impact. The impending danger of resistance to traditional [...] Read more.
Aquaculture, a crucial sector of the global food industry, faces a myriad of issues due to parasitic invasions. One such parasite, Microcotyle sebastis, which afflicts Korean rockfish in South Korea, has a significant economic impact. The impending danger of resistance to traditional anthelmintics necessitates the exploration of new antiparasitic candidates. Although the efficacy of salinomycin against aquatic parasites such as ciliates and sporozoans is known, its influence on monogeneans has yet to be studied. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy and safety of salinomycin for the treatment of M. sebastis infections, presenting the first exploration of salinomycin’s therapeutic potential against monogeneans. In vitro examinations revealed a minimum effective concentration of salinomycin of 5 mg/kg, which led to necrosis of the haptor upon dislodging from the gill filaments. The one-time oral administration of the drug at concentrations of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg showed a significant dose-dependent reduction in parasite counts, with no apparent behavioral side effects in Korean rockfish. Biochemical analyses monitored the liver, heart, and kidney enzymes, specifically aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase–myocardial band (CK-MB). At both 20 °C and 13 °C, no significant differences were observed in the levels of AST and ALT. However, at 20 °C, alterations in BUN levels were evident on Day 14, a deviation not observed at 13 °C. The CK-MB analysis revealed elevated enzyme levels at both temperatures when compared to the control group, reflecting the similar changes observed in terrestrial animals administered salinomycin. The biochemical data suggest that the oral administration of salinomycin is potentially more favorable at 13 °C than at 20 °C. Although our findings warrant further comprehensive studies, including on the long-term and potential effects on nontarget species and water quality, they also suggest that salinomycin could be considered as an alternative or adjunctive treatment if resistance to the currently used praziquantel against M. sebastis is confirmed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Pathology and Parasitology)
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10 pages, 7523 KiB  
Article
Helminths of the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788), from the Strait of Messina (Sicily, Southern Italy)
by Giovanni De Benedetto, Fabiano Capparucci, Carmelo Iaria, Fabio Marino and Gabriella Gaglio
Animals 2023, 13(15), 2405; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152405 - 25 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 858
Abstract
Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788), is a little-known elasmobranch in the Mediterranean Sea. Given the lack of information about H. griseus, the aim of our study was to describe the helminth fauna of this species. In March 2023, one H. griseus [...] Read more.
Bluntnose sixgill shark, Hexanchus griseus (Bonnaterre, 1788), is a little-known elasmobranch in the Mediterranean Sea. Given the lack of information about H. griseus, the aim of our study was to describe the helminth fauna of this species. In March 2023, one H. griseus juvenile female specimen was found off the coast of Messina (Italy) and referred by the Italian Coast Guard to our laboratory for necropsy and parasitological evaluation. After necropsy, the specimen’s gills, stomach and spiral valve were investigated for parasite presence. All collected parasites were stored in 70% ethanol for routine parasitological analysis. No lesions due to parasites were found in the gills or skin. Three species of helminths were found in one studied female specimen of Hexanchus griseus, namely, two cestode species (Phyllobothrium sinuosiceps and Nybelinia sp., larvae) and one trematode (Otodistomum veliporum). Among them, five Trypanorhyncha plerocercoid larvae were found attached to the stomach mucosa, and six adult cestodes and one digenean trematode were collected from the spiral valve. No other parasite taxa were found in the celomic organs. This study reports new information regarding the parasitic fauna of H. griseus from the central Mediterranean Sea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Pathology and Parasitology)
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12 pages, 2843 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Levamisole Hydrochloride against Microcotyle sebastis in Korean Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii): An In Vitro and In Vivo Approach
by Won-Sik Woo, Gyoungsik Kang, Kyung-Ho Kim, Ha-Jeong Son, Min-Young Sohn, Ji-Hoon Lee, Jung-Soo Seo, Mun-Gyeong Kwon and Chan-Il Park
Animals 2023, 13(11), 1791; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111791 - 28 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Parasitic infections pose significant challenges in aquaculture, and the increasing resistance to conventional anthelmintics necessitates the exploration of alternative treatments. Levamisole hydrochloride (HCl) has demonstrated efficacy against monogenean infections in various fish species; however, research focused on Microcotyle sebastis infections in Korean rockfish [...] Read more.
Parasitic infections pose significant challenges in aquaculture, and the increasing resistance to conventional anthelmintics necessitates the exploration of alternative treatments. Levamisole hydrochloride (HCl) has demonstrated efficacy against monogenean infections in various fish species; however, research focused on Microcotyle sebastis infections in Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole HCl against M. sebastis infections in Korean rockfish with the goal of optimizing anthelmintic usage in aquaculture. In this study, we first assessed the susceptibility of M. sebastis to levamisole HCl in vitro. Subsequently, in vivo evaluations were conducted to assess the drug’s efficacy, safety, and to identify optimal administration methods. In vitro experiments revealed concentration-dependent sensitivity of M. sebastis to levamisole HCl, with a minimum effective concentration (MEC) of 100 mg/L. In vivo experiments employed oral administration, intraperitoneal injection, and immersion treatments based on the MEC. Oral administration proved to be a safe method, yielding efficacy rates of 27.3% and 41.6% for 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses, respectively, in contrast to the immersion and injection methods, which induced symptoms of abnormal swimming, vomiting, and death. Biochemical analyses conducted to assess the safety of levamisole HCl revealed a transient, statistically significant elevation in the levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) on day three post-administration at 20 °C. Following this, no substantial differences were observed. However, at 13 °C, the enzyme levels remained relatively consistent, emphasizing the role of water temperature conditions in influencing the action of levamisole HCl. Our research findings substantiate the efficacy of levamisole HCl against M. sebastis in Korean rockfish, underscoring its potential for safe oral administration. These results provide valuable insights for developing parasite control strategies involving levamisole HCl in Korean rockfish populations while minimizing adverse impacts on fish health and the environment. However, this study bears limitations due to its controlled setting and narrow focus. Future research should expand on these findings by testing levamisole HCl in diverse environments, exploring different administration protocols, and examining wider temperature ranges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Pathology and Parasitology)
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11 pages, 1662 KiB  
Article
Influence of Seasonality and Culture Stage of Farmed Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with Monogenean Parasitic Infection
by Elisabeth de Aguiar Bertaglia, William Eduardo Furtado, Ângela Teresa Silva e Souza, Manoela Clemente Fernandes, Scheila Anelise Pereira, Elenice Martins Brasil, José Luiz Pedreira Mouriño, Gabriela Tomas Jerônimo and Maurício Laterça Martins
Animals 2023, 13(9), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091525 - 02 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1492
Abstract
The aim of this study was to observe how abiotic and biotic factors in a tropical region influence the rate of monogenean parasitism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) that are farmed in net cages. A total of 240 sexually reversed fish [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to observe how abiotic and biotic factors in a tropical region influence the rate of monogenean parasitism in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) that are farmed in net cages. A total of 240 sexually reversed fish were analyzed, and 20 from each culture stage were collected during each sampling month. Overall, 60 fish were sampled in April (autumn), 60 in August (winter), 60 in November (spring), and 60 in February (summer). Fish were collected from a commercial fish farm located in Capivara Reservoir in the lower Paranapanema River region of Paraná, Brazil. In total, 3290 monogenean parasites were collected from fish gills of the following species: Cichlidogyrushalli, C. thurstonae, Scutogyruslongicornis, C. cirratus, C. sclerosus, and C. tilapiae. Higher parasitological indices were observed in colder seasons with lower precipitation. Autumn had the highest parasitic infection values compared to the other seasons. The occurrence of monogenean parasites showed a negative correlation with season, in contrast to the culture stage, in which there was a positive correlation. These results may provide a means for establishing adequate fish farm management to predict periods of high monogenean infestation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Pathology and Parasitology)
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16 pages, 2995 KiB  
Article
Prevalence and Morphological Investigation of Parasitic Infection in Freshwater Fish (Nile Tilapia) from Upper Egypt
by Salwa Mahmoud Abd-ELrahman, Ahmed Gareh, Hager Ibrahem Mohamed, Barakat M. Alrashdi, Ahmed Kamal Dyab, Manal F. El-Khadragy, Nady Khairy Elbarbary, Alamira Marzouk Fouad, Fatma A. El-Gohary, Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy and Sara Abdel-Aal Mohamed
Animals 2023, 13(6), 1088; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13061088 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3751
Abstract
Fish are a source of high-quality protein with low cholesterol, but they are susceptible to parasitic infections, which have a significant impact on aquaculture, in addition to their zoonotic potential. The present study estimated parasitic infections and evaluated the diversity of zoonotic parasites [...] Read more.
Fish are a source of high-quality protein with low cholesterol, but they are susceptible to parasitic infections, which have a significant impact on aquaculture, in addition to their zoonotic potential. The present study estimated parasitic infections and evaluated the diversity of zoonotic parasites in freshwater Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Assiut Governorate, Upper Egypt. A total of 300 samples were randomly collected from the Assiut Governorate. These fish were examined for both ectoparasites and endoparasites, followed by the experimental infection of mice with encysted metacercariae (EMC) for the retrieval of the adult worms. The overall prevalence of the variable parasites was 82% (246 of 300). Both ecto- and endoparasites were detected in 41% (123 of 300) of the examined fish. The identified ectoparasites were Gyrodactylus, Dactylogrus, Cichlidogyrus, Trichodina and Icthyophthirius multifiliis, in 5%, 4%, 22%, 6% and 4% of the fish, respectively. The endoparasites were trematodes (Orientocreadium batrachoides 3%), nematodes (Contracaecum. 2%), acanthocephala (Acanthosentis tilapiae 25%) and protozoa that included Isospora and Eimeria spp., in 1% and 8% of fish, respectively. Myxobolus was detected in 2% of the examined fish. The overall prevalence of encysted metacercariae (EMC) was 95% (285 of 300), while infection with macroscopic EMC had a prevalence of 37% and microscopic EMC had a prevalence of 58%. The adult worms recovered from the experimental infections were Prohemistomum vivax and Mesostephanus spp., which belong to the family Cyathocotylidae. Collectively, these findings reflect the relatively high occurrence of parasites among the studied fish, confirming the necessity of strict measures to control infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Pathology and Parasitology)
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