A novel 'skinny pot-belly' disease in Asian seabass fry, Lates calcarifer (Bloch)

In Singapore, viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is considered to be the most serious disease of farmed Asian seabass fry, Lates calcarifer (Bloch) (barramundi), causing mortalities of 80–100% and heavy economic loss (Lim, Chong & Kueh 1997; Kasornchandra 2002). When some ‘skinny pot-bellied’ seabass fry were presented to the Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory early in 2004, with a history that the disease was usually first observed at around 3 weeks of age, VNN was the prime suspect. Instead of central nervous lesions, however (Munday, Langdon, Hyatt & Humphrey 1992), histopathological examination showed the presence of a severe necrotizing and ulcerative enteritis, progressing to perforation and peritonitis, with disseminated multifocal granulomas. Associated with these lesions were numerous bacterial colonies. This preliminary report presents a description of this novel systemic bacterial disease of young seabass, typified by emaciation and abdominal distension, and associated with high mortality. Immunohistochemistry suggests an association with Edwardsiella ictaluri.

Journal of Fish Diseases

Journal of Fish Diseases

27

1365-2761

N/A

12

5