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.