Aspects of the biology of Cryptocaryon irritans, and hyposalinity as a control measure in cultured gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata

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Abstract
The life cycle and halotolerance of Cryptocaryon irritans were studied. Trophonts completed their growth phase on the host in 3 to 7 d. The reproductive process of the tomonts yielded tomites as early as 3 and as late as 28 d. Tomite life span was 24 to 48 h. Trophonts embedded in the fish skin withstood 18 h exposure of the host to fresh water. Tomonts withstood salinities ranging from 20 to 70 .permill. for 48 h without losing viability. Tomites were seen emerging only from tomonts kept in constant salinities ranging from 25 to 50.permill.. All tomonts degenerated when immersed in 0 to 10.permill. for 3 h. Eradication of the parasite based on these findings was achieved. Four consecutive treatments of 3 h each in 10.permill. salinity 3 d apart destroyed all tomonts before tomites could excyst and were well tolerated by the fish. C. irritans life cycle was similarly interrupted by 4 consecutive transfers of fish into clean tanks at 3 d intervals. A certain degree of resistance to C. irritans invasion was observed in fish that had survived several infections.

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