Diseases Summary

More information on White spot Disease

Main Ref:	193
Disease type:	Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
Disease name:	White spot Disease
Other names:	Ich, Ichthyophthiriasis, similar symptoms: @Cryptocaryon irritans@ (Ich occurs in freshwater, @Cryptocaryon@ is the marine counterpart).
Caus. agent:	Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
Group:

Part of body and/or behavior affected by disease:
Skins and/or fins	Belly	Swimming behavior
Gills	Anus	Other behavior
Eyes	Viscera Afflicted	Other symptoms

Fish affected:	Diff. spec.
Symptoms:	White spots 0.5 to 1 mm on fin, skin and gills. Later white patches and loss of skin by pieces, scrapping, clamped fins. Mortality can often be very high. Can be confused with white cysts caused by myxosporidians in some fish species.
Treatments:	3 g of quinine hydrochloride in 300 ccm of water for a 100 l tank, in three equal parts with a mean time of half a day (DUIJN). Quinine hydrochloride can be toxic, overdosing is dangerous. Alternatives are Methylene blue at 5 mg/litre. For eels in New Zealand, 2 ppm methylene blue and 40 ppm formalin 3 g of quinine hydrochloride in 300 ccm of water for a 100 l tank, in three the white spots disappear. Stocking solutions of 3.5 Malachite Green (or 0.35g) + 3.5g Methylene Blue (or 0.35g), combine in 1 liter Formalin (or 100 ml). Dosage is 1 ml/100 liter, this will be left for two days, allowing to react. After two days water change is required and repeat the treatment. Wait for another five days to change the water again. This can be combine with an anti-bacterial treatment. Dosage in the pond is 10ml/1000 liter (1 m3), water change and repeat treatment after a few days. (Ref. 48502).
Prophylaxis:	All new fish must be quarantined until it is certain that they are free of the parasite prior to distribution.
Remarks:	This parasite is almost impossible to avoid, and treatment is most effective if applied IMMEDIATELY after the first white spots appear. Under a dissecting microscope the parasite has a distinctive U-shaped macronucleus and revolves in its cyst.
Mortality and seasonality
Mortality:
Seasonality: