Fungal disease of freshwater fishes in Natore district of Bangladesh

Abstract

An investigation was conducted on fungal disease of freshwater fishes in Natore district of Bangladesh from September 2005 to February 2006. A total of 2097 fish specimens where about 300 fishes under 15 fish species (8 culturable and 7 non culturable) were infected with fungal disease. Among culturable species most fungal infected fishes was C. mrigala (24.71%) where the total length, total weight and group of this infected fish was 10.8 to 40 cm, 10 to 995 g and 10.1 to 15 cm respectively followed by C. idellus (16.28%) and L. rohita (13.43%). Among non culturable species the most fungal infected fish was C. punctatus (22.42%) where the total length, total weight and group of this infected fish was 11 to 23 cm, 15 to 20 g and 20.1 to 25 cm respectively followed by C. striatus (16.88%) and P. ticto (15.31%). Disease in culturable fish species was less (13.40%) than non-culturable species (15.19%). Three genera of fungi were identified where Branchiomyces sp. was associated with gill rot disease and Saprolegnia sp. and Aphanomyces sp. were associated with ulcer types of disease. The incidence (%) of disease was highest in the month of December (22.49%) followed by November (20.25%) and January (18.00%). Keywords: Fungal disease; Infected fish; Incidence DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i1.4979 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(1): 157-162, 2009