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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282214
Title: Ameliorating trematode infections in farm raised fish reasons for infections, their impacts, and management of infections on fish farms

Author
item Mitchell, Andrew
item KHOO, LESTER - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Bridging America and Russia with Shared Perspectives on Aquatic Animal Health
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2011
Publication Date: 8/1/2011
Citation: Mitchell, A.J., Khoo, L.H. 2011. Ameliorating trematode infections in farm raised fish reasons for infections, their impacts, and management of infections on fish farms. Bridging America and Russia with Shared Perspectives on Aquatic Animal Health. p. 237-242.

Interpretive Summary: The confluence of several factors is thought to be the cause of increased digenetic trematode infestations in cultured fish in the southeast. This includes the rapid growth of pond aquaculture, loss of wet land habitat, resurgence of aquatic bird populations, as well as the importation of exotic snails and parasites. Control and management of these parasites are discussed in the manuscript.

Technical Abstract: The onset of rapid growth of pond aquaculture from the late 1940s, the loss of wet lands due to commercial and residential land development, the resurgence of aquatic bird populations, and the importation of exotic snails and parasites have led to digenetic trematode infestations in cultured fish. With these events, an ideal environment for the build-up and concentration of trematode host (birds, snails, and fish) was found in warmwater fish-pond facilities. Thus it was inevitable that trematode numbers cycling through these host would increase and produce disease outbreaks. As a result of the aforementioned factors and probably others, trematode infestations have been reported in pond raised fish throughout the southeast.