Achlya infection in an Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) with typical symptoms of saprolegniosis.

Abstract

Saprolegniosis is one of the most frequent diseases in the ornamental fish industry that may cause by Achlya spp. There is no report of fungal infection caused by Achlya spp. in Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) in Iran. An Oscar fish was referred to the Veterinary Hospital, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran with saprolegniosis symptoms including loss of appetite and yellow to gray cottony mass on the skin of flank and caudal peduncle. The infected area of the fish body was investigated by wet smear. After observing broad aseptate hyphae (approximate width 10-15 μm), the infected skin was inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at 30 ˚C for seven days. The large fungi colony was appeared on the agar and the isolated fungi were detected as Achlya spp. after examination by wet and stained dry smears according to the morphology of hypha, spores, and zoosporangium. It is the first report of cutaneous saprolegniosis in Oscar caused by Achlya spp. in Iran.