Eman Moustafa Moustafa Moustafa Masboba, Misaki NAOTA, Takehito MORITA, Nahoko TANGE, Akinori SHIMADA (2010) Pathological Study on the Scuticociliatosis Affecting Farmed Japanese Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in Japan Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 72: 10. 1359-1362 October Abstract: Pathological findings associated with scuticociliatosis in farmed Japanese flounder in Japan are described. Ten moribund
fishes, farmed in Tottori Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, showed cutaneous ulcers, darkened skin, fin and tail rot, exophthalmia
and alterations in swimming behaviour. Histopathologically, severe epidermal degeneration and necrosis, hyperplasia of branchial
epithelium, myositis, myelitis, encephalitis associated with heavy accumulation of scuticociliates in the periorbital cavity and optic
nerve fiber were observed. Moreover, masses of ciliates were found to feed on the host tissues such as skeletal muscles, gills and brain,
causing severe degenerative changes associated with abundant neutrophilic and lymphocytic infiltration. These findings suggest that the
present scuticociliate, Miamiensis avidus, is a highly invasive and destructive pathogen infecting Japanese flounder and capable of developing
systemic fatal infection.
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