Protozoan disease in larval culture of the edible sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus
Becker, P.; Eeckhaut, I.; Ycaza, R.H.; Mercier, A.; Hamel, J.-F. (2010). Protozoan disease in larval culture of the edible sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus, in: Harris, L.G. et al.Echinoderms: Durham - Proceedings of the 12th international echinoderm conference, Durham, New Hampshire, USA, 7-11 August, 2006. pp. 571-573. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780203869543-c85
In: Harris, L.G. et al. (2010). Echinoderms: Durham - Proceedings of the 12th international echinoderm conference, Durham, New Hampshire, USA, 7-11 August, 2006. CRC Press: [s.l.]. ISBN 978-0-415-40819-6. I–XXXVI pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9780203869543-f
The present contribution aims at describing a disease that affects auricularia larvae of the holothuroids Isostichopus fuscus farmed in a land-based system along the coast of Ecuador. During the early stages of the disease, opaque cells become visible around the digestive tract of the larvae, soon followed by the collapse of the intestine and stomach. In worst cases, the digestive tract completely shrivels up and disappears, preventing the larvae from feeding. When it occurs, the infection affects 90-100% of the larvae and is usually fatal. Optic microscopy, SEM and TEM indicate that the agent of the disease is an amoeboid protozoan that enters through the body wall and the digestive tract. The protozoans are presumed to feed on the intestinal contents and/or tissues, typically causing the death of the larvae. A close monitoring and the use of environmental parameters allow the survival of a small proportion of the culture.
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