Occurrence of whirling disease symptoms in cultured common carp in Basrah, Iraq

A total of 128 fish samples including 70 Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, 10 Leuciscus vorax (Heckel, 1843), 40 Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) and eight Planiliza abu (Heckel, 1843) were collected during the period from November 2016 to May 2017. Seven different localities (floating cages, earthen ponds and natural water) in Basrah were investigated. Among some detected fish diseases, whirling disease symptoms was reported for the first time in Iraq in April 2017, from two C. carpio cultured in earthen fish ponds of Marine Science Centre, University of Basrah. The infested fish were dwarfed, with abnormal big head and small body. Grossly signs of the diseases represent fins and tail deformities in addition to open ulcers and losing of scales, and necrosis of skin and muscles. Internally, fish suffered of muscles ecchymosis and vertebral deformities. Histological sections revealed that the spinal cord had healthy structure.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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