ISSN Versión impresa 2218-6425 ISSN Versión Electrónica 1995-1043

Neotropical Helminthology, 2018, 12(2), jul-dic:195-200.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE / ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL

MORTALITY OF COLOSSOMA MACROPOMUM (ACTYNOPTERYGII, SERRASALMIDAE)

CAUSED BY INFESTATION OF ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS MULTIFILIIS (CILIATEA,

ICHTHYOPHTHIRIIDAE) IN A FISH FARM, LORETO, PERU

MORTANDAD DE COLOSSOMA MACROPOMUM (ACTYNOPTERYGII, SERRASALMIDAE)

CAUSADA POR INFESTACIÓN DE ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS MULTIFILIIS (CILIATEA,

ICHTHYOPHTHIRIIDAE) EN UNA PISCIGRANJA, LORETO, PERÚ

1Laboratório de Parasitología y Sanidad Acuícola. Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana. Centro de

Investigaciones Fernando Alcántara (CIFAB - IIAP). Av. Jose A. Km. 2.5, 0784, Quiñones, Iquitos – Perú.

2 Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana (UNAP). Av. Sargento Lores 385, Iquitos, Perú.

* Corresponding author: E-mail: germantiss1106@gmail.com

1,* 1

Germán Augusto Murrieta Morey ; Alexis Mijail Bravo Aliano ;

2 2

Margarita Adelina Díaz Medina & José Carlos Zumaeta Cachique

ABSTRACT

Keywords: Colossoma macropomum – ectoparasite – fish-farm – Peru – ichthyophthiriasis – Gamitana – white spot disease

Mortality of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet,

1876 is reported from a fish-farm located in the Peruvian Amazon. The infestation of I. multifiliis was

influenced by inadequate water conditions caused by low temperatures and high values of ammonium.

Prophylactic measures such as daily evaluation of physical and chemical parameters in the water and

proper management of the fish such as the location of the pond and the water supply must be taken into

consideration to prevent the manifestation of diseases.

Neotropical Helminthology

195

Volume12,Number2(jul-dec2018)

ÓrganooficialdelaAsociaciónPeruanadeHelmintologíaeInvertebradosAfines(APHIA)

Lima-Perú

VersiónImpresa:ISSN2218-6425VersiónElectrónica:ISSN1995-1043

RESUMEN

Palabras clave: Colossoma macropomum – ectoparásito - enfermedad del punto blanco – ichthyophthiriasis - Gamitana - piscigranja.

Mortandad de Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) causado por Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet,

1876 es registrado en una piscigranja localizada en la Amazonía peruana. La infestación por I. multifiliis

fue influenciada por inadecuadas condiciones del agua del estanque de cultivo causadas por bajas

temperatura y elevados niveles de amonio. Medidas profilácticas como: evaluación diaria de los

parámetros físico-químicos del agua y adecuado manejo de los peces como la localización del estanque y

el suministro de agua deben ser implementados para prevenir la manifestación de enfermedades.

The development of the aquaculture activity

promotes the increase of inappropriate practices

that disregard the care with the environment and

the health of the animals. Intensive systems are

often associated with increased stock density and

volume and the massive use of artificial feed, often

of poor quality. All these characteristics, together,

act directly on the pathogen / environment / host

relationship (García et al., 2013). This relationship

occurs in a balanced way in the natural

environment, unlike the intensive systems that

invariably act favoring the development of

pathogens, while negatively affecting the

environmental characteristics and the defense

mechanisms of the host (García et al., 2013).

Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818)

(Characiformes: Characidae), known as tambaqui

or gamitana, is an endemic species of the Amazon

Basin and is considered the second largest fish in

South America (Araujo-Lima & Goulding, 1997).

The C. macropomum can reach up to 90 cm in

length and 30 kg of total weight and is a highly

appreciated species with great acceptance on the

Amazonian market being regarded as an eatable

fish of the highest quality (Gomes et al., 2006).

Ectoparasites infections on fishes are commonly

encountered in the wild and in aquaculture

(Hoffman, 1999). Among ectoparasites,

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876 is a

cosmopolitan ciliate protozoan, which causes

parasitism called ichthyophthiriasis, or popularly

known as "white spot disease". This parasite

presents direct life cycle and short generation

times, which may result in high infestation

intensities (Noga, 2010). It is considered one of the

most pathogenic parasites in fish affecting several

species without showing host specificity (Yao et

al., 2011).

In the present study, a case of infestation of I.

multifiliis and mortality of C. macropomum is

reported from a fish-farm located in the Peruvian

Amazon.

196

Neotropical Helminthology, 2018, 12(2), jul-dic

INTRODUCTION MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS

Two-thousand C. macropomum with 60 days old,

3.6 ± 0.34 cm standard length and 1.83 ± 0.45 g of

weight were placed in a floating cage with 9.2 m of

dimension located in the middle of a fish pond with

8902 m of dimension (Fig. 1A).

Two weeks after having been placed in the cage, the

owner of the farm noticed some individuals of C.

macropomum floating on the water. The first day

17 death fish were collected, the second 973 and the

third day all the remaining fish died (Fig. 1C, 1D).

For examination and analyses, 200 samples were

placed into plastic bags and transported to the

laboratory of “Parasitología y Sanidad Acuícola”

of the “Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía

Peruana” (IIAP), located in Iquitos, Peru.

The physicochemical parameters of the water

(temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide,

pH, ammonium) were measured during the three

days at 8 AM, noon and 4 PM using a YSI

multiparameter (Model MPS 556) and using a

complete package of freshwater (LaMotte AQ-2).

In the laboratory an external observation of the

individuals was made, noticing the presence of

white spots on the skin, operculum and fins (Fig.

2A-D). Samples of skin scraping were taken and

observed under microscope. After the observation

of the samples, the protozoan I. multifiliis (Fig. 2E,

2F) was detected parasitizing the tegument, fins

and gills of the fish, being responsible for high

mortalities on the farm.

Values of physicochemical parameters of the water

were: temperature (23 C), pH (6.8), dissolved

-1 -1

oxygen (2 mg·L ), carbon dioxide (6.5 mg·L ) and

-1

ammonium (1.5 mg·L ).

Murrieta Morey & Bravo Aliano

197

Figure 1. A. Floating cage with Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818). B. Farm with pigs, placed at 150 m of the pond. C.

Collection of dead fish, D. Dead specimens of C. macropomum.

According to Faria et al. (2013) tropical fish

tolerate temperature between 25 and 32 C,

-1

dissolved oxygen 1 – 5 mg·L , pH 6.5 – 9 and

-1

ammonium with values below 0.05 mg·L ). It is

known that unsuitable environmental conditions

and abrupt variations of the temperature, pH and

oxygen concentration in aquaculture can render

fishes more susceptible to parasites (Garcia et al.,

2007). In the present study, low values in the

temperature together with high values of

ammonium may have influenced the parasitism of

I. multifilis in C. macropomum due to stress and

weakening of the fish immune system.

DISCUSSION In the Amazon, August is a month that corresponds

to low water season, characterized by days with hot

temperatures. However, in some days, strong rains

with considerable reduction of the temperature

may occur. As it was noticed in this study, strong

oscillations of the temperature were registered

before the presence of the pathology. High values

in ammonium may be as a product of excessive

organic and inorganic matter present in the water.

At just 150 m of the pond, there is a farm of pigs

(Fig 1B.). Residues of their food and also

excrement of these animals are dragged by rains

until the ponds, increasing the concentration of

ammonium in the water.

Fish of importance for world aquaculture are

affected by I. multifiliis every year, from carp

Neotropical Helminthology, 2018, 12(2), jul-dic Infestation of Ichthyophthirius

Figure 2. Specimen of Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) with signs of “white spot disease”. B. Observation of the gills of a

specimen of C. macropomum. C. Body of a specimen of C. macropomum with white spots. D. Observation of damages on the gills

of a specimen of C. macropomum. E and F. Microscopical observation of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet, 1876.

Neotropical Helminthology, 2018, 12(2), jul-dic Murrieta Morey & Bravo Aliano

198

199

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Witeska et al.,

2010), trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum,

1792) (Picón-Camacho et al., 2012), catfish

Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque, 1818) (Xu et al.,

2012), Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

(Pantoja et al., 2012) and of native fish species such

as the catfish Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum

Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 (Jeronimo et al.,

2013), catfish Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard,

1824) (Garcia et al., 2011) paco Piaractus

mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) (Franceschini et

al., 2013), and gamitana C. macropomum

(Matthews, 2005) decreasing the chances of

success of the production of these fish.

The rate of ichthyophthiriasis morbidity can reach

up to 100%, causing great economic losses (Osman

et al., 2009). In severe cases of infestation, deaths

occur primarily due to respiratory impairment (Wei

et al., 2013). Microscopic lesions such as ulcers

and necrosis of the integument and gill associated

with the severe inflammatory response are

commonly described in this disease (Matthews,

2005). In the present study, a new case of

infestation of I. multifiliis is reported in the

Peruvian Amazon. Our results showed also a case

with 100% of mortality, observing ulcers in the

gills that cause the death of the fish.

To prevent the manifestation of diseases and the

death of fish, prophylactic measures and proper

management such as adequate location of the pond

together with the water supply must be

implemented for fish-farmers. Daily evaluations of

physico-chemical parameters are recommended,

especially in regions with tropical weather, where

strong oscillations of the temperature may be

present from one day to another.

Araujo-Lima, CRM & Goulding, M. 1997. So

fruitful fish: ecology, conservation, and

aquaculture of the Amazon's tambaqui.

Columbia University Press, New York. 157

pp.

Faria, RHS, Morais, M, Soranna, MRGS &

Sallum, BW. 2013. Manual de criação de

peixes em viveiro. Brasília: Codevasf.

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Received October 20, 2018.

Accepted December 12, 2018.

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