Author
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Mitchell, Andrew |
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Submitted to: The Catfish Journal
Publication Type: Trade Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2001 Publication Date: 11/1/2001 Citation: MITCHELL, A.J. UPDATE, AND IMPACT OF A TREMATODE THAT INFECTS CULTURED CHANNEL CATFISH.. THE CATFISH JOURNAL. 2001. p.17;28. Interpretive Summary: Bolbophorus confusus (there may be two or more species of Bolbophorus) is a trematode found in pelicans, snails, and many fish species throughout the world. It has been known to infect fish for over 100 years and has recently emerged as a significant problem in the culture of catfish in the US. The first observations of this trematode in cultured catfish were from a Louisiana farm in about 1994. Since 1994, it has been found in catfish from more than 40 farms in Mississippi, 4 farms in Louisiana, 3 farms in Arkansas and 1 in California. These finds raise it from a problem of regional concern to problem of national concern. Most reports of infected fish come from ponds where pelicans have been observed. The infected fish have reduced appetites, are more susceptible to secondary diseases, and large losses among fingerlings can result. The same trematodes have also been found infecting wild fish in two Arkansas lakes. In three of the wild caught channel catfish the trematodes were heavy enough to compromise the health of the fish. The effort taken by the catfish industry to control the trematode which includes the purchase and applications of copper sulfate and lime (two chemicals used for snail control) and the stocking of black carp (a biological control for snails) is perhaps a good measure of the impact of Bolbophorus trematodes. Another indication of its importance is an increase in the number of diagnostic cases that involve the trematode. Efforts to control host birds and snails must continue in order to keep this parasite from becoming a more serious problem. Technical Abstract: This article gives information on the history, update, and impact of the Bolbophorus trematode that infects farm raised catfish as well as many other propagated and wild fish species. The history portion includes the first record of the trematodes occurence in the world and the United States, early fish host records, the parasites distribution, and the beginnings of this trematode infection in the catfish industry. The article follows with an update that includes information on the recent spread of the treatode within the catfish industry, its affect on wild catfish, and its potential importance to the commercial fishing and sport fish industries. It ends with an assessment of the trematodes impact on the acquaculture industry that is based primarily on the effort put into the control of the intermediate snail host. |
