Indian J. Fish.

, 37 (1): 61 - 62 (1990)

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE POSSIBLE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF EPIZOOTIC ULCERATIVE SYNDROME IN FISHES OF WEST BENGAL
A, K. MANDAL, N . C . NANDI, N . C. SARKAR AND F. B . MANDAL

Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta - 700 053, India

ABSTRACT

The presence of bacteria and a flagellated protozoan, Costia necatrix Henneguy has been reported in association with Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) in fishes of West Bengal.

The Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) in fishes has been the headlines of newspapers in recent times, reporting heavy mortality in the freshwater fishes of West Bengal and other parts of eastern and north eastern India. However, it has not yet been possible to arrive at any definite conclusion regarding the causative agent (s) responsible for the disease Ghingran and Das, 1990). Keeping this in mind an attempt has been made to investigate the matter and to identify the possible organisms causing the disease. The fishes particularly murrels belonging to the species Channa striatus (Bloch) and C. punctatus (Bloch), having ulcerations on their body, were brought alive to the laboratory from a freshwater pond at Budge Budge, South 24-Parganas district through the kind courtesy of Mr. S. Chattopadhyay of this department. The smears from the wound, blood smears as well as organ-imprints were made from these fishes, fixed in Schaudinn's fixative or methanol, and stained with ironalum haematoxylin or Romanowsky's stain (Leishman's and Giemsa's stain). Microscopical examination was made under oil immersion.

The presence of both bacteria and a flagellate were noticed in the smears made from the wounds. The flagellate was identified as Costia necatrix Henneguy (Protozoa : Mastigophora). At the initial stage of infection, as well as from the body surface free from ulcerations, only the bacterial organisms, were found. This flagellated parasite appeared secondarily in succession after the initial attack by the bacteria. At the later stage of infection, intensive attack of C. necatrix along with bacteria causes ecchymoses of the skin leading to severe ulceration and death. Approximately thirty species of freshwater fishes, both cultured and wild, have so far been affected by EUS in India (Jhingran and Das, 1990). A number of bacterial and protozoan pathogens including C. necatrix are known to be involved with ulcerative diseases (Wenyon, 1926; Gopalkrishna, 1964; Conroy and Herman, 1970; Bullock et al., 1971; Srivastava, 1975; Monohar and Devraj, 1975). Intimate association of C. necatrix with the ulceration or wounds indicates that this protozoan parasite is possibly one of the important causative agents responsible for

NOTE

PI

Fig. :l. C. striatus (dorsal view).

dtistry as well as pisciculture actiities, detailed investigalioris are needed to be carrial out further on the causative organisms of the disease. Tfie authors are thankful to Prof, M. S. jairajptiri. Director, Zoological Survey of India for facilities and to Dr. R. K. Varshney, Scientist SF" and Mr. S. C:hattopa,dhyay, Scientist 'B' for their kind interest and varkms help in this study.
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Fig. 2. C. slrklus (lacteral view of tail region) infected stage.

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