Identifying Parasites
By Wayne Barker

This article is still under construction.

Index

1. Anchor Worm 2. Chilodonella 3. Costia 4. Fish Lice 5. Gill Fluke 6. Gill Maggot 7. Skin Fluke 8. Trichodina 9. White Spot / Ich

Anchor worm

Lernea elegans, genus class Copedoda, common name Anchor worm Identification anchor worms are so large that they can easily be seen with the naked eye. The anchor worm is a true parasite, in that it embeds in either the gill or body of the host and its food source is the tissues of the host, unlike most common parasites that attach to the fish and feed on any dead matter or bacteria that that happen to pass by. in this way Lernaea causes immense tissue damage. Treatments Treatment is very hard, as it will involve the capture of the host (koi) and the physical removal of the parasite with tweezers, taking care not leave the embodied head of the Lernaea in the flesh of the koi, as this will lead to secondary bacterial infection which can sometimes be life threatening. It has been reported that dabbing the parasite with potassium permanganate will cause the parasite to release her grasp on the host, enabling easy removal. External Refrences used : http://www.koiquest.co.uk/lernaea.htm

Chilodonella
	Identification Habitat Transmission Reproduction Treatments Additional Information   External Refrences used :

Costia
	Identification Habitat Transmission Reproduction Treatments Additional Information External Refrences used :

Fish lice

Argulus japonicus Identification Fish lice are one of the very few parasites that are visible with the naked eye. The fish lice is very flat, oval body is covered almost completely by their broad carapace with unusual, prominent compound eyes. Very common parasite, can be found in pet stores all over the world. When they locate a new host they grab a hold, scurry toward the head, and attach behind the operculum (the flap that covers a fish's gills) or a fin.  Attaching in these slightly protected areas reduces the likelihood they will be brushed or washed off of the host.  Treatments Dimilin should be used as soon as parasites are observed on the fish as optional follow up treatments other than dimilin you can use; Option 1 - Remove all fish for a period of two weeks. Juvenile argulus die if they haven't found a host within a few days of hatching Option 2 - Organophosphate is another option, it has been used successfully on removing lice, fleas and other parasites from dogs, cats, horses and even gardens.  The fish lice will lay eggs all over the pond, plants and ornaments, and after a few days those mini lice will go out and try to find a host on their own. the whole process take 30-100 days. It is therfore very important, to have follow up treatments. Additional Information The fish louse is a very dangerous parasite. Its hooks can go into the fishes skin and gills and causes extreme irritation. Due to the open wound the fish is suspectible to secondary infections like bacterial gill disease and ulcers. Besides the physical injuries to the fish, the constant irritation causes stress, which might lead to secondary parasite attacks like Ich and Costia. They are capable of leaving their host for up to three weeks. External Refrences used : http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/maxillopoda/ branchiura.html http://www.kokosgoldfish.com/Fish%20Lice.html

Gill Fluke

Gill Flukes, family of monogenetic trematode genera, classified as Dactylogyrus Identification Gill flukes are characterised by the large grappling hooks which are used to attach themselves to their victims. Gill flukes can be seen with a microscope capable of 40x magnification under which they appear as nearly transparent and worms. Habitat Gill flukes can be found as the name suggests on the gills of the fish. Transmission Transmission occurs by direct contact of infected and uninfected hosts, and also by active swimming of Dactylogyrus from one host to another. Reproduction The lifespan of a fluke is roughly 14 days, but they complete a reproductive-maturation cycle in 4 days. Gill flukes are hermaphrodites possessing both female and male sex organs Once attached to a host the gill fluke starts the reproduction cycle and disperse eggs into the environment, but this is very temperature dependant, at low temperatures the fluke will only release one or two eggs per hour, however as the pond temperature rises to typical summer temperature ranges this will increase to over 20 eggs per hour and beyond Treatments Potassium Permanganate Supaverm / Fluke Off / Serponver Plus (Same product) - Warning - do not use on gold fish) Additional Information It is common to see one or two on a microscope slide as a healthy koi can control parasite numbers and their mucus helps prevent the parasite from moving.  Treatment is therefore only necessary if flukes are seen in numbers.   External Refrences used : http://www.akca.org/library/diease4.htm http://www.koicarp.org.uk/koi_parasites.htm http://www.koiquest.co.uk/flukey%20devil.htm http://www.sacramentokoi.com/SUBcategory.php?categoryKey=13&subCategoryKey=133&subCategoryName=Common%20Koi%20Diseases

Gill Maggot

Identification The gill maggot is a parasite which can be found attached to the gill filaments. It is only the female that attacks fish, the male stays in the plankton swarm. Infected fish can be seen with small maggots attached to the gills, gill plates, and inside the mouth. Severe infestations can cause severe gill damage, emaciation, anemia, and even death. Transmission It can also be carried via birds bathing in a waterfall where your pond is near a fishing lake. Infection is transported between sexually mature adults on fish (quarantine). Also by adding native fish to a pond, from a bag of water and net used at side of a bank (mainly lake). Also the nauplii can be transported in bags of live food. Reproduction The Gill maggot lays twin egg sacs (around 1.5mm). Treatments Ergasilus responds very poorly to treatments. In fact Its very hard to treat, as death is mainly by ergasilus digesting the epithelial cells in the gills, and allowing secondary infections to develop such as columnaris, or fungus. Treatment of either of these will have no affect on ergasilus and you cannot treat one without the other. Treat the entire aquarium or pond with organophosphorus insecticides such as metriphonate. Medicate the aquarium (0.25 to 0.4 mg/L) for 7-10 days. Some fish, such as piranhas, are sensitive to this medication so treat them separately using potassium permanganate with 30 minute baths for 7-10 days. It is important to improve your aquarium or pond's water quality, being careful not to overfeed. External Refrences used : http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases/gill_maggots.php http://www.fish-helpline.co.uk/health/gill_maggots.html http://www.tdsfb.org/gillmaggots.htm

Skin Fluke

Skin Flukes, family of monogenetic trematode genera, classified as Gyrodactylus. Identification Skin flukes are characterised by the large grappling hooks which are used to attach themselves to their victims. Skin flukes can be seen with a microscope capable of 40x magnification under which they appear as nearly transparent and worms. Skin flukes differ from gill fluke as they are live bearing. One can sometimes see the young developing inside the skin fluke. It is also not uncommon for the unborne parasite to already be busy with its own reproduction meaning that you can see the unborne skin fluke in its unborne mother! Habitat Skin flukes can be found anywhere on the body of the fish including the gills. Transmission Transmission occurs by direct contact of infected and uninfected hosts, and also by active swimming of Gyrodactylus from one host to another. Reproduction The lifespan of a fluke is roughly 14 days, but they complete a reproductive-maturation cycle in 4 days. Skin fluke are hermaphrodites possessing both female and male sex organs. Where this fluke differs from the gill fluke is, they are termed viviparous meaning it gives birth to live young, a fully formed smaller version of the adult, Treatments Potassium Permanganate Supaverm / Fluke Off / Serponver Plus (Same product) - Warning - do not use on gold fish) Additional Information It is common to see one or two on a microscope slide as a healthy koi can control parasite numbers and their mucus helps prevent the parasite from moving.  Treatment is therefore only necessary if flukes are seen in numbers.   External Refrences used : http://www.akca.org/library/diease4.htm http://www.koicarp.org.uk/koi_parasites.htm http://www.koiquest.co.uk/flukey%20devil.htm http://www.sacramentokoi.com/SUBcategory.php?categoryKey=13&subCategoryKey=133&subCategoryName=Common%20Koi%20Diseases

Trichodina

Trichodina is a genus of ciliate protists that is ectocommensal or parasitic on aquatic animals, particularly fish. Identification When viewed under a microscope the parasite appears as small spinning U.F.O's. They can move very fast.  A microscope with a magnification of 100x is required to view this parasite. Habitat When trichodinids become a problem it usually indicates poor water quality. Trichodinids are typically found on the gills, skin and fins of fishes, though some species parasitise the urogenital system. Transmission Transmission occurs by direct contact of infected and uninfected hosts, and also by active swimming of trichodinids from one host to another. Reproduction They reproduce by binary fission, literally cell-splitting. Treatments 1. Potassium Permanganate 2. Malachite green Additional Information Trichodina does require a host. They can live on any organic matter anywhere in the pond for a unspecified time.  Trichodina does not actually feed on the host but only attaches itself while feeding on suspended bacteria.  The mouth of the parasite actually faces away from the host when attached.  They affect the fish by : a) the irretation caused while being connected, which results in flashing b) preventing the fish from removing oxygen from the water as they live on the gill plates.  Trichodina is present in water with high bacterial loads. External Refrence used : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichodina

White Spot / Ich

Click here to see a video of Ich under the microscope.

White Spot, Ichthyopthirius multifiliis Identification Ich causes small white spots all over the fishes body where the parasite has bored through the skin of the host. The white spots on the skin, gills and fins are individual protozoan cells that are under the skin and feed on the body fluids and cells. Although the parasite is called white spot, under the microscope it appears as big rotating black spots. White spot can be seed with microscopes capable of 40x magnification. Habitat Whote spot can be found anywhere on the fish. Transmission Transmission occurs by means of swarmers. The swarmers typically attack the dorsal and caudal fins of koi, although gills and body are also affected. The swarmers burrow through the surface of the skin and so the parasite resides in the body and not on the body of infected fish. Reproduction The adult parasite drops off the host, surrounds itself with a capsule and fixes itself to a plant or rock. Inside the capsule the parasite divides and multiplies and eventually  250 - 1000 tiny 'swarmers' are released and these then swim off in search of a new host. Treatments The complex nature of the life cycle of white spot can render it difficult to treat as it is only the free swimming swarmers that can be killed with chemical treatments. Malachite Green with salt Malachite Green and Formalin Prolonged use of salt Additional Information Newly produced swarmers can however only live without a host for up to 55 hours maximum, so by simply removing koi from a pond for three days, it can be cleared of the parasite completely.   External Refrences used : http://www.koicarp.org.uk/koi_parasites.htm http://www.sacramentokoi.com/SUBcategory.php?categoryKey=13&subCategoryKey=133&subCategoryName=Common%20Koi%20Diseases

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