[MARINE_BIOLOGY_INTERNATIONAL] FISH DIE-OFF - SPAIN: (CASTILE AND LEON) FUNGUS SUSPECTED

 

FISH DIE-OFF - SPAIN: (CASTILE AND LEON) FUNGUS SUSPECTED
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Date: Fri 10 Jun 2011
Source: Efeverde.com, EFE News Agency [in Spanish, trans., Mod.JG, edited] <http://www.efeverde.com/esl/contenidos/noticias/10-junio-2011-15-32-00-una-infeccion-por-saprolegnia-causo-la-muerte-masiva-de-peces-en-leon>

A fungal species affecting fresh water fish, _Saprolegnia_, has been pointed out as the cause of death of many fish, particularly Iberian nase (and/or Duero nase), during this spring season [2011] in the Capital City (Leon, province of Castile and Leon), according to sources from Leon University.

The investigation started last April [2011] after the appearance of hundreds of dead fish, most of them Iberian nase in upriver areas of the Bernesga river, near the bridge to the Parador Nacional de San Marcos in Leon.

The Duero River Hydrographic Authority (CHD, Confederacion Hidrogafica del Duero, according to its Spanish initials) requested a study of the Bernesga River water at various points, particularly temperature, oxygen dissolution, oxygen saturation, pH, and conductivity, and the waters complied with safety requirements, as told to EFE by a source from the CHD.

Fish samples were taken to the Veterinary school, where it was concluded they died because of _Saprolegnia_ infections, a fungus species that affects freshwater fish, endemic in Leon province rivers, and that has been affecting other fish in the area, particularly trout.

All the information available indicates that the infection is a natural occurrence, and the logical next step is that the process may gradually subside, according to the same source.

Water may influence the occurrence of this fungus, even though the analyses performed by CHD stated that the water's condition is absolutely normal. However, the same sources from the University pointed out that the water is in constant movement and that it may be quite difficult to determine its condition in a given moment, although they have ruled out contamination by waste, and insist this is a natural occurrence, as has happened in the past.

CHD took samples from the Bernesga River, near the San Marcos inn, near the localities of Cuadros and La Robla, and in the Olleros stream in this latter village.

From the beginning of the event, CHD pointed out that waste dumping in Bernesga River was a very unlikely cause for this occurrence, since the river now has a high discharge near Leon city, because of the recent rains.

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[The Iberian Nase (_Pseudochondrostoma polylepis_) is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family, found in Portugal and Spain.
Its natural habitats are rivers and intermittent rivers (<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_Nase>). See picture at <http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/freshwater/pseudochondrostoma_polylepis.htm>.
- Mod.AS]

[The city of Leon can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Spain at <http://healthmap.org/r/0YZW>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

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