Diseases and parasites of penaeid prawns of India: a short review

The diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa and metazoa as well as by other biotic and abiotic agents reported in the penaeid prawns of India are reviewed.

The nature of the aerobic gastrointestinal bacteria of cichlid fish Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters) and Tilapia nilotica (Linnaeus) grown under captivity

Bacteriological examination of the gastrointestinal microflora of 2 freshwater cichlid fish species (Sarotherodon mossambicus and Tilapia nilotica ) was performed, resulting in the bacteria enumeration of total viable counts of 1.06x10⁷/g and 7.75x10⁷/g of gastro-bacteria intestinal tract plus contents (wet weight) respectively, by aerobic incubation at 30+1°C. The majority (78%) of the total gut isolates from both fish species was Gram positive mesophilic which is characteristic of the higher ambient temperature in the tropics. These isolates were fastidious in their nutritional requirements and together with the rest are isogenous to bacteria autochthonous to soil and water. The occurrence of such organisms is attributed to the feeding habits of these fish. The gastrointestinal bacteria isolated in this study are transient residents but not "indigenous" in these cichlid fish.

Studies on the fungal diseases in crustaceans. I. Lagenidum scyllae sp. nov. isolated from cultivated ova and larvae of the mangrove crab (Scylla serrata)

Lagenidium scyllae , a marine mastigomycete from the ova and larvae of the mangrove crab, is described and illustrated as new. The fungus grew at a temperature range of 16-42 C, with an optimum at 22.5-31.8 C. It grew well in peptone-yeast-glucose (PYG) broth containing 2-3% NaCl. In PYG-sea water medium, it grew at a pH range of 5-11.

Containing the diseases in aquaculture

A brief discussion is presented on epizootics and their containment in the aquaculture industry, in the form of a question-and-answer interview. Particular reference is made to activities carried out by the OIE (Office International des Epizooties), whose main activities include the provision of guidelines and standards for health protection applicable to international trade in live animals and their products. It has devised an early warning system to apprise its member countries of the occurence of disease outbreaks that would have serious repercussions on public health or the economics of animal products. URI