FISH DISEASE:

PROTOZOA

Dr. Marina Hassan - 2010

 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Phylum Ciliophora
Order Peritrichida

Suborder Sessilina Suborder Mobilina

Family Trichodinidae
Family Vorticellidae
Family Ophryoglenidae
Genus Vorticella L.
Genus Carchesium Family Chlamydodontidae
Family Epistylidae
Genus Epistylis
Family Scyphidiidae
Genus Apiosoma
Genus Scyphidia
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Order: Peritrichida
 Circular or subcircular arrangement of cilia near the
oral end of the cell.
 The present of definite stalks (or peduncles) by which
they attach to a wide variety of substrate.
 Some species form colonies, the members of which
are linked by a branching stalk.
 Filter-feeding bacterivores.
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Suborder: SESSILINA
Key to the genera of Peritrichida Sessilina in South-East Asia

1. Solitary……………………………………………………….….……………….2
Colonial…………………………………………………….….….………………4
2. Slender, contractile stalk present; cell with shape of
inverted bell………………………………………….................Vorticella
Stalk absent, attachment by more
or less definite peduncle………..…..….3
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Suborder: SESSILINA
3. Attachment surface broad; macronucleus ribbon- or sausage-
shaped…………………………………………………………....Scyphidia

Attachment surface narrow, macronucleus conical or

oval…......……………………………………………….…………...Apiosoma
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Suborder: SESSILINA
4. Stalk contractile, branches not contracting
simultaneously; cells resembling that of
Vorticella, with inverted bell shape; colonies
up to 4mm high
………………………………….………..Carchesium

Cells of similar shape to Carchesium,

but stalks not contractile.......Epistylis
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Suborder: SESSILINA
Common genera include:
(Fig. A) Epistylis. Cells on branching,
noncontractile stalks.

(Fig. B) Opercularia: Similar to Epistylis,

but with a central protrusion from the
apex of the cell.

(Fig. C) Carchesium: Cells on branching

stalks. Each cell can contract slightly,
independent of the others.

(Fig. D) Vorticella: Cells on unbranched

stalks. Each stalk contains a helical fiber
which, upon contracting, throws the stalk
into a tight coil.

(Fig. E) Zoothamnium. Branching stalk

with a single contractile element, so the
entire colony contracts at once.
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae
Genus Epistylis
Target tissues: Skin, fin, gills (less commonly).
Appearance: Elongated on stalks; forms colonies
Movement: Not free-moving on fish; may see cilia move
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae
 Epistylis appears as a fluffy growth on the external surface
of crustaceans and fish.
 Epistylis uses the animal as an attachment substrate, so it
can feed on bacteria and particles in the water.
 The attachment of this protozoan imbeds itself in the
epidermis of the skin, therefore creating an opening for a
secondary bacterial and/or fungal disease.
 This protozoan may also be a secondary invader of
bacterial lesions.

Disease signs / symptoms:

 Severe irritation or suffocation.
 Skin ulceration
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae
Treatment:
 Salt baths, 3x a week
Formalin baths (200 ppm) for 40 min
If the fish have ulcer and secondary
bacteria infection, treat with Oxytetracycline
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae
Prevention:
Adequate nutrition
good handling
Not over crowding
Good water quality
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae

This lesion caused by the protozoan parasite Epistylis.

There are many causes of red lesions on the skin of fish
such as bacteria Aeromonas infection.
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae

Crayfish- the shell covered with a fluffy growth

that can be brown to grey in colour.

Fuzzy mat-like appearance due to ciliate fouling.

Affected shrimps are restless
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Epistylidae
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Scyphidiidae
Genus Apiosoma

Target tissues: Skin, fin, gills

Appearance: Vase-shaped with oral cilia
Movement: Not free-moving on fish; may see cilia move
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Family Scyphidiidae
Genus Scyphidia
Target tissues: Skin, fin, gills
Appearance: Barrel-shaped with row of oral and mid-line cilia
Movement: Not free-moving on fish; may see cilia move
 Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

 Sessile peritrichs favour soft skin, devoid of large scales and

most common on juvenile fish.
 More often colonized on the weak or unfavourable
conditions fish.
 Skin irritation
 The foot or stalk compresses the epithelial cells to which it
is attached, causing deformation and resulting in functional
disorders of the epithelium.
 Mass colonization of the gills and skin can affect respiration
and disturb their normal movement.
 Growth retarded and weight lost, particularly for young fish.
Dr Marina Hassan, FPAI

Treatment with formalin is usually effective

for freshwater species.
* Formalin baths (200 ppm) for 40 min