Effects of company and season on blood fluke (Cardicola spp.) infection in ranched Southern Bluefin Tuna: preliminary evidence infection has a negative effect on fish growth.

ABSTRACT: Aporocotylid blood flukes Cardicola forsteri and C. orientalis are an ongoing health concern for Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT), Thunnus maccoyii, ranched in Australia. Therapeutic application of praziquantel (PZQ) has reduced SBT mortalities, however PZQ is not a residual treatment therefore reinfection can occur after the single treatment application. This study documents the epidemiology of Cardicola spp. infection in ranched SBT post treatment over three ranching seasons (2018, 2019 and 2021). Infection prevalence (percentage of SBT affected) and intensity (parasite load) was determined by adult fluke counts from heart, egg counts from gill filaments and the use of specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for detection of C. forsteri and

SUBMITTER: Power C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10377432 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature