Effect of Sublethal Exposure to the Trematode Bolbophorus spp. on the Severity of Enteric Septicemia of Catfish inChannel Catfish Fingerlings

Abstract
The digenetic trematode Bolbophorus damnificus has been implicated as a cause of mortalities and reduced production in farmed channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in northwestern Mississippi. Field observations indicate that infection can exacerbate losses from common bacterial diseases, such as enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), which is caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri. The interaction of concurrent infections with Bolbophorus spp. and E. ictaluri was investigated using three replicates of four experimental treatments. Trematode infections were established by placing fingerlings for 24 h in triplicate static tanks containing marsh rams-horn snails Planorbella trivolvis shedding Bolbophorus cercariae at a rate of 770 ± 82 (mean ± SE) per 24-h period. Unexposed fish were maintained in three tanks under similar conditions. From each tank, trematode-infected or noninfected fish were transferred to six aquaria (30 fish/aquarium). Three aquaria from each replicate treatment tank received 7.5 × 105 co...
Funding Information
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture

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