Isolation and pathological study of Branchiomycosis from the commercial pond of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fish, in Governorate of Duhok / Iraq.

Abstract

Branchiomycosis is a fungal disease that infects fish gills. It was identified by isolation and histopathological changes of examined gills in common carp fish (Cyprinus carpio) which, were obtained from fish farm in Duhok Governorate, Iraq. The infected fish were suffering from respiratory disorders; gulping air at the water surface, rapid movement of operculum and massive mortality, which resulted in the loss of 95% of fish pond. The gills appear marbled appearance with necrotic areas on the localized damage gills. The causal pathogen was identified as Branchiomyces sanguinis, in which the diameter of spores and non-septated hyphae are 5-7 µm and 12 – 20 µm, respectively. In histopathological preparation, the spores and the non-septated hyphae have been shown to be embedded in the gill tissues contained undivided and sporulating stages.