Saprolegniasis (water molds disease)

Quick Facts

Disease Name : Saprolegniasis (water molds disease)

Causative Agent : Saprolegnia parasitica

Diagnostic Method : Observation of a cottony proliferative growth on the skin or gills

Symptoms

  • A cotton-like dots on the injured tissue and gills
  • Lethargy of fish
  • loss of appetite
  • Lesions are focal gray-white patches on the skin,
  • Ulceration of skin with haemorrhages
  • Early lesions are often almost circular and grow by radial extension around the periphery until lesions merge
  • Scales are lifted away from body surface of fish
  • Neccrosis of fins and membranous part of gills

Host (Common sp.)

  • Gold fish
  • Livebearer fish
  • Cichlids
  • Fighter fish
  • Gourami fish

Treatment Method

  • KMnO₄(1g in 100lit of water for 30-90 min)
  • Low prolonged immersion salt con centrations (>3ppt)
  • Methylene Blue (0.3-0.5 gm/100 l for 3 days in a separate tank)
  • Bath treatment in NaOH (10-25g/lit for 10-20min
  • Salt, Copper Sulfate (Stock-solution: 4 gm/1 liter, 20 ml/100 l or 4 drops/liter)
  • CuSO 4 (5-10g in 100 lit water for 10- 30min
  • Potassium Permanganate (400-800 mg/100 liter for 60-90 minutes),