Parasitological diagnosis in food fish produced in a fish farm, in the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study identified the parasitic species in juvenile freshwater finfishes during the fattening stage, from a fish farm located in the Zona da Mata (MG), southeastern Brazil, and revealed both macro and microscopical lesions in fish gills. A total of 172 juvenile fishes of different species (Oreochromis niloticus, Ictalurus punctatus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Astyanax bimaculatus and Brycon amazonicus) were transported to a laboratory in São Paulo city. The fish were sedated and then euthanized for parasitological analysis. All fish were infected by at least one parasite species. Ten different species of parasites were identified: Apiosoma sp., Epistylis sp., Ichthyobodo sp., trichodinids, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Tetrahymena sp., monogeneans, Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae, and Dermocystidium sp. The best management practices and lack of sanitary control were also discussed.

Parasitological diagnosis in ornamental freshwater fish from different fish farmers of five Brazilian states

“…Biosecurity, internal and external barriers, disinfection and antisepsis of equipment and aquaria, quarantining of fish prior to entry into the system, among other prophylactics measures, must be taken in order to preserve the physiological conditions and health of the animals to avoid parasite proliferation. The lack of correct hygiene handling practices and failure of proper water treatment equipment installation, cause severe sanitary problems because of inefficient pathogen control (Cardoso et al, 2017(Cardoso et al, , 2020aRelvas et al, 2020).…”