Fish

Bacterial infections and ectoparasites leading causes of mortalities

The clinical signs of Edwardsiella ictaluri infection in pangasius are numerous white spots on the kidney, spleen and liver.

The freshwater catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) is an indigenous fish species in high demand from global consumers. Commercial culture of pangasius in Vietnam provides improved socioeconomic status for thousands of Vietnamese producers.

As in other developing aquaculture ventures, health problems that include disease outbreaks from parasites and bacteria have been encountered. For pangasius, the most important disease problems are caused by the bacteria (Edwardsiella ictaluri), (Aeromonas hydrophila), (A. sobria) and (A. caviae).

Protozoan parasites encountered include organisms of the genera (Microsporidium), (Myxobolus), (Henneguya), (Trypanosoma), (Ichthyonyctus), (Trichodina), (Balantidium) and (Epistylis), as well as IIchthyophthirius multifiliis). Several metazoan parasites and noninfectious problems have also been reported.