Branchiomycosis (Gill rot disease)

Quick Facts

Disease Name : Branchiomycosis (Gill rot disease)

Causative Agent : Branchiomyces demigrans

Diagnostic Method : Examining wet mounts or histopathology of lesions

Symptoms

  • Lethargic
  • Respiratory distress in infected fish
  • Gulping air at the water surface (or piping)
  • Fish are gathered in groups at water inlet and die
  • Redness of gills, which later become grayish-white, necrosis of gill filaments
  • Gills appear striated or marbled with the pale areas representing infected and dying tissue.

Host (Common sp.)

  • Gold fish
  • Livebearer fish
  • Koi carp

Treatment Method

  • Disinfected, dried and treated with quicklime (calcium oxide)
  • Sodium chloride (3-5%)
  • cuSO 4 (5-10g in 100 lit water for 10- 30min