Potentially new emerging diseases on two species of Indonesian freshwater aquaculture: giant gourami (Osphronemus gourami) and Asian catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Abstract

Disease outbreaks and mortality in giant gourami and Asian catfish (pangasius) culture have been frequently reported during the last decade. Etiological agents of the disease have remained unknown, so it is needed to explore epidemiological studies to know the main causative agents. The study aimed to know the main pathogenic agents who were identified during disease outbreaks on giant gourami and pangasius. Data and information were collected through active and passive surveillance at the production centers of each species. Analysis was carried out according to standard fish disease diagnosis and eventually was focused on two suspected new emerging diseases (NED), namely Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV) belonging to Megalocytivirus on giant gourami and Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC) caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri on pangasius. The results showed that ISKNV was detected on most of the diseased giant gourami samples and that E. ictaluri was identified on most diseased pangasius samples. This study concluded that both pathogenic agents, Megalocytivirus and E. ictaluri were suspected to be potentially NED on freshwater aquaculture, especially infecting giant gourami and pangasius respectively.

Identification of potential molecular markers for disease resistance in giant gourami through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II gene analysis

“…Intensive gourami farming is faced with the problem of infection with a number of diseases that have an impact on fish deaths. The main disease in gourami farming is Motile Aeromonad Septicemia (MAS) caused by Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria (Novita et al, 2021). As reported by Purwaningsih et al (2014), MAS in addition to causing death, also has an impact on decreasing the quality of fish produced.…”

New emerging viral disease on Giant Gourami (Osphronemus goramy Lac.) in Java, Indonesia

“…In 2018-2020, giant gourami farming in Indonesia experienced a disease outbreak that resulted in mass mortality, particularly in the production centers covering Java, with economic losses estimated at 40 billion rupiahs [5,6,7]. The impact of the disease outbreaks was reflected in the national production of this species.…”

“…Production of giant gourami increased from 2011 to 2017; however, there was a significant decline of more than 30% from 2018 to 2020 [8]. Epidemiological studies related to disease outbreaks have not been conducted comprehensively, so the primary causes still need to be discovered and fully described, including the determinant factors of the disease [7].…”