The pathology of Saprolegnia infections of Anguilla anguilla L. elvers

• Published in: Journal of Fish Diseases
• Main Authors: COPLAND, J. W., WILLOUGHBY, L. G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1982
• Subjects: Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1982.tb00498.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2761.1982.tb00498.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2761.1982.tb00498.x

Abstract. The clinical signs and histopathology of Saprolegnia sp. [related to S. diclina Humphrey (syn. S . parasitica Coker)] are described in cultured Anguilla anguilla L. elvers under an intensive production system. The main lesions observed were loss of epithelium leading to ulceration, oedema and myofibrillar degenerative changes of the muscle mass. The oedema resulted in swelling of the inter‐myotomal connective tissue, loss of nuclei and minor host reaction. Traumatic lesions with subsequent bacterial infections had a mononuclear inflammatory response. It is suggested that the rapid extension of the lesion is due to the loss of integrity of the integument and the widespread oedema, which altered the viability of tissues and assisted the Saprolegnia infection. The condition was fatal for infected elvers.