EPIZOOTIC ULCERATIVE SYNDROME, FISH - AUSTRALIA: (QUEENSLAND)
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Date: Fri 23 Sep 2011
Source: Nine News [edited]
<http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8351203/parasite-and-fungi-behind-sick-fish-in-qld>
A fungal disease and a parasite are to blame for the sickness afflicting fish in Gladstone Harbour, Queensland biosecurity authorities say.
Commercial and recreational fishing in the central Queensland waterway has been banned for 3 weeks [September-October 2011] after fish were found with sores and cloudy eyes.
Initial test results identified 2 conditions, red-spot disease [also known as epizootic ulcerative syndrome] and a parasite, said Fisheries Queensland general manager of habitat and assessment John Robertson.
"Red-spot disease starts with a red spot, hence the name, but can develop into burn-like marks, or ulcers with red centres," Dr Robertson said. He said red-spot disease is endemic in Queensland and usually happens in winter, when the immunity of fish is lower, or after the 1st heavy rainfall of the wet season. "It is caused by a fungus and often occurs in fish when they are under stress."
Dr Robertson said more research was needed into the parasite, which affected the eye of the fish. "We now know that this parasite is what has been causing the cloudy eyes in some barramundi in the area," he said. "We still have more to learn about this condition and how it is affecting fish within the area." Additional testing is being conducted on fish, prawns, and mud crabs from Gladstone Harbour.
Queensland Seafood Industry Association president Michael Gardner said identifying the disease was just the 1st step. "It is critical that not only [microbiological] and pathology testing be conducted but a full suite of toxicology testing also be conducted to identify any residues that may be present in these fish," he said in a statement.
He said further testing is required "if industry is to have any confidence in being able to return to work."
Fishermen are also running out of patience for the time it has taken to complete the tests, Mr Gardiner said. "They are facing severe financial difficulties associated with the fishing lock-out and no certainty when and if they will be able to return to work," he said.
"Fishermen have worked well with government but are increasingly desperate for real answers as to what has decimated their fishery and the harbour environment."
He called for affected businesses to be compensated while they waited for payments to be set up by the coordinator-general.
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[Red spot disease is quite a serious ulcerative disease of many (more than 100) species of freshwater and estuarine fish. In Australia, the disease is more common in the Northern Territory, but it also occurs in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Cloudiness of the cornea is sometimes observed in some fish species, especially barramundi, with this condition (Humphrey and Pearce, Fishnote no. 1, October 2004). The causative agent of red spot disease is a fungus, _Aphanomyces invadans_.
There is no mention on the finding of a parasite in cases of eye cloudiness. This sign might be part of the red spot disease syndrome, but cloudy eyes can also be caused by digeneans [parasitic flatworms] or coccidians [parasitic protozoans].
The overall impact of red spot disease on wild stocks of fish is uncertain, although high losses in juvenile stocks are known to occur.
If _A. invadans_ invades aquaculture farms it may cause unsightly injuries in fish, market rejection, and fish mortality.
The fungus is not known to cause disease in humans. However, advanced lesions in fish sometimes contain bacteria which potentially cause disease in humans. Therefore, people should not eat diseased fish.
Portions of this comment were extracted from <http://www.nt.gov.au/d/Content/File/p/Fishnote/FN01.pdf>. - Mod.PMB]
[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Australia can be seen at <http://healthmap.org/r/1hix>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]
[see also:
Epizootic ulcerative synd., fish - Canada: corr. 20110330.0983 Epizootic ulcerative synd., fish - Canada 20110326.0952 2010
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Ulcerative mycosis, fish - USA: (FL) 20101118.4176] .................................................sb/pmb/mj/ml/ll
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