Mycological Society of America

Aphanomyces as a Fish Parasite Author(s): Leland Shanor and Herbert B. Saslow Source: Mycologia, Vol. 36, No. 4 (Jul. - Aug., 1944), pp. 413-415 Published by: Mycological Society of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3754756 . Accessed: 21/05/2013 12:46
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APHANOMYCES
LELAND SHANOR

AS A FISH PARASITE
AND HERBERT B. 1 FIGURE) SASLOW (WITH

During November, 1942, a serious outbreak of a fungal disease on fish developed in some of the aquaria in the Vivarium of the University of Illinois. The macroscopic appearance of the fungus on the infected fish suggested a water mold, possibly a delicate species of Saprolegnia, as the causal organism. Microscopical examination and cultural studies of the parasite revealed it to be a sterile Aphanomyces. Certain species of Saprolegnia, Achlya, and Dictyiuchus are known to parasitize fish and in some instances to cause serious trouble. Aphanomyces species, however, are more widely known as plant parasites or as parasites of such Invertebrates as the European Crayfish and of some smaller fresh water Crustacea. Because of the severity of the epidemic here and its unusual occurrence as a parasite on fish,1 we deem it of some interest to publish this brief account. The first infection was noted in a small one gallon aquarium November 4th, 1942, and was observed in other aquaria within a few days. The fish in two small aquaria, those in a 28 gallon rectangular aquarium and those in a large concrete burial vault used as an aquarium, were almost entirely eliminated by this organism within a period of about two weeks. The source of inoculum is not known but it is probable that it was introduced along with some food materials grown in containers of fresh water kept outside of the Vivarium. Adults as well as young were attacked in a characteristic manner and the virulence of the organism on both age groups was equally
1 We have been unable to find any previous records of Aphanomyces occurring on fish. In this search of the literature we wish to acknowledge the help of Dr. D. H. Linder, who generously checked through the host index of the Farlow Reference Library for citations, and of Dr. W. N. Tiffney, who kindly looked through his personal file of references to fungal parasites of fish. 413

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414

VOL. 36, 1944 MYCOLOGIA,

41V,.
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FIG. 1. Lebistes reticulatus Peters. A, normal young female; B, parasitized young female showing characteristic humped condition, an early symptom of the disease; C, central portion of the body enlarged to show mats of mycelium within dorsal musculature (1), and a lesion from which hyphae protrude (2). A and B about X 4.3, C about X 10.4. (Photographs by George Svihla.)

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SHANOR AND SASLOW: APHANOMYCES

415

severe. The following fish were represented in the various infected aquaria: Lebistes reticulatus Peters (Guppy), Anoptichythys jordani Hubbs and Innes (Mexican Blind Cave Fish), and a hybrid of Platypoecilus maculatus Guenther (Platy) x Xiphophorus helleri Heckel (Swordtail). All of these seemed about equally susceptible to infection by this species of Aphanomyces. The method of infection is not known. Previously acquired injury lesions or other evidence of any unhealthy condition were not detected in any of the specimens. The first evidence of Aphanonmycesinfection to be observed was a peculiar abnormal dorsal hump (FIG. 1, B). The parasite usually developed most extensively in the dorsal region (FIG. 1, C) and its activity in the musculature here seemed to be responsible for this peculiar spinal curvature. A few days later, the mycelium of the parasite was evident as whitish lumps within the distended musculature (FIG. 1, C.1). Soon after this first appearance of macroscopic symptoms of a diseased condition, the hyphae began to protrude from the lumps in tufts which extended out from the skin for a length of about 2 mm. Isolations were made of the external hyphae from these areas as well as from portions of the infected tissue, but only Aphanomyces was recovered. The Aphanomyces seemed to be the parasite entirely responsible for the condition and not an organism which had entered after the host tissue had been injured or when the vitality of the host had been lowered by some other primary type of infection. Usually within a week after lesions developed parasitized fish succumbed. None of the fish that became infected have recovered. We have been unable to identify the species of Aphanomyces observed and isolated for sexual reproductive structures have not developed in any of the cultures and none have been observed in the infected tissue or on hyphae extending from lesions. It grows quite well on a number of culture media such as maltose-peptone agar, hempseed, grubs, etc. It is obviously a facultative parasite which may become destructive under suitable conditions.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, URBANA, ILLINOIS

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