Major Non Infectious Diseases in Catfishes and their preventive measures

Aquaculture accompanies several disease problems caused by different microbial pathogens which are common evident in general culture practice. High stocking densities, over feeding and other organic loads stimulate the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Bacteria, virus, fungus and protozoan parasites are the important microorganisms to cause diseases in fish culture. Disease outbreaks continue to be a major problem for the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. Clinical outbreaks can negatively impact on the welfare of the fish and the economic gain.

The non pathogenic diseases in fishes is due to environmental factors, nutritional deficiency, degrade of pond conditions etc. The following are the important non pathogenic diseases of the which affect severely to catfishes….

Crack Head / Head Crack /Broken head disease / Broken skull disease
Yellow Liver (Jaundice) disease / Yellow Liver disease / Swollen liver disease
Brown Blood diseases

Crack Head Disease in Cat Fish.

The “Crack Head” disease is the only obvious catfish disease reported from pond culture .It is also called the Broken Head Disease / Broken Skull Disease. It is a highly devastating disease in commercial catfish farming in India.

Causes.

Crack Head disease is due to one or more of nutritional deficiencies like Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus .Crack Head disease believe to be caused by a poor diet or lack of unbalanced nutrients, poor water quality and over feeding etc .

Symptoms.

Begins as small pits on the head region, usually just above the eyes. The affected fish shows a reddishness lateral line on the skull, between the two air chambers, parallel to the skull plate joints . In later stage, these turn into large cavities in which the disease is progresses along the lateral line. Skull will break ultimately fish will die.

The clinical symptoms are slightly distended abdomen due haemorrhages , occasionally exophthalmus (pop-eyes), reduced growth, scoliosis, lordosis, haemorrhages, lesion on fin distorted gill filaments, fin erosion, abnormal pigmentation, increased capillary fragility, poor reproductive performance and spinal deformity.

Recently, it has been noticed that the Crack Head disease is reported as Vitamin C deficiency syndrome in intensive catfish culture. The dearth importance of vitamin C as an immune modulator and a key nutritional element for catfish.

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Possible Treatments.

Increase frequent water changes.
Add vitamins supplements enriched with Vitamin C in the feed.
Remove sludge from the pond bottom.
Maintain optimum DO, pH and minimizes ammonia level in pond water.
Supply balanced diet regularly.

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Brown Blood Disease.

Nitrite poisoning commonly called "Brown Blood" Disease, is an environmental disease that affect a number of fish species including channel catfish. The main cause is elevated levels of nitrite in the pond water. The disease occurs in fish when the water contains high nitrite concentrations. Nitrite is a product of the breakdown of ammonia by bacteria. Nitrite enters pond eco system after feed is digested by fish and the excess nitrogen is converted into ammonia, which is then excreted as waste into the water. Uneaten (wasted) feed and other organic material also break down into ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in a similar manner.

Nitrite enters the bloodstream through the gills and turns the blood to a chocolate-brown color. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood and combines with nitrite to form methemoglobin which is incapable of transport oxygen. Brown blood cannot carry sufficient amounts of oxygen and affected fish can suffocate despite adequate oxygen concentration in the water. This accounts for the gasping behavior often observed in fish with brown blood disease, even when oxygen levels are relatively high.The term "brown blood disease" comes from the appearance of the blood that has high levels of methemoglobin .

Brown blood disease can be prevented, or at least minimized, by close monitoring of nitrite, chloride, and TAN, and by maintaining the proper chloride to nitrite ratio. If brown blood disease does occur, the condition can be reversed by adding salt to the water. Catfish (likely other fish) surviving brown blood disease or nitrite stress are more susceptible to bacterial infections, anemia (white-lip or no-blood), and other stress-related diseases. The secondary problems such as Aeromonas or Columnaris infections, often occur in 1 to 3 weeks after brown blood disease.

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Sodium chloride (common salt) is used to treat brown blood disease. Calcium chloride also can be used but typically more expensive. The chloride portion of salt competes with nitrite for absorption through the gills.

Jaundice Disease in Catfish.

Jaundice is a condition of yellow colouration in the abdominal skin, sclera of the eyes and fin bases. It is a significant health problem affecting the most of freshwater catfishes. Jaundice is due to an excess of bile pigment present in the blood and lymph. This condition described in catfish as "Catfish Jaundice".The affected fishes are suffering from a haemolytic anaemia resulting in jaundice. Although, a single pathogen could not be associated with this condition, a wide range of microbial pathogens are involved .

These may contribute towards the morbidity and mortality is observed in jaundiced fish. Myxosporean infection is found in both apparently normal fish and jaundiced fish. In affected fish gills becomes pale, yellow ascitic fluid, enlarged spleen, kidney and gall bladder, and/or yellow flesh.

The clinical symptoms are:

Affected fish shows yellow colour of the skin and gills.
Reduced appetite and became lethargic, anorexic and moribund
Fish show gill rot & increases mortality rates
The spleen, kidney, gall bladder and liver become enlarged with pale-yellow in colour.
The fat tissue in the abdominal cavity also yellow in colour.
Serum of jaundiced fish is bright yellow to orange in colour

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Fish has lose movement due todamage of caudal fin. Disease occurs due to poor water quality, high stocking density , disease occours conveniently at temperature 30oC. However, disease also occurs when temperature fluctuates unusually. E. Italis, that causes pus-in-liver disease in Catfish.

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Jaundice disease is very dangerous and difficult to treatment. In severe condition , it may lead mass mortality of fish in early growing stages . Jaundiced fish has prone more susceptible to stress and tended to die before reach to the market size .

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Rancid fats in the diet result in high levels of free radicals and peroxides that cause oxidative damage to biological membranes and organelles. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential components of all biomembranes. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant and protects biological membranes from lipid peroxidation by acting as a scavenger of free radicals. The presence of rancid fats however depletes the diet of vitamin E and other antioxidants, leaving the biological membranes vulnerable to oxidation. The improved and quality of the feed is recommended for this condition.

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Preventive measures for diseases in fish culture farms.

The health management of fish is enforcement of stringent biosecurity measures that prevent the entry of pathogens into the culture system. Other important components of fish health management include minimization of stressful events and use of compounds that boost or stimulate the fish immune system. Following are the key recommendations for effective health management…Proper pond Preparation , stocking of quality seed and disease free fish fry ,maintaining of water quality ,high nutritional feed etc are essential to reduce risks of fish disease outbreaks. Regular use of probiotic and immunostimulants has the greater impact on fish farming and minimizes the risk factors for disease out breaks. Environmental management to minimize stress also plays a major role in disease prevention.