Black spot disease (fluke disease)

Black spot disease is also known as diplopstomiasis or fluke disease.[1] It is a freshwater fish disease caused by flatworm larvae of the genus Neascus.[1][2][3] It appears as tiny black spots on the skin, fins and flesh of the fish.

The life cycle of the parasite typically involves a fish-eating bird, a snail and a fish.[4] The black spot larvae grow to sexual maturity in the infected bird's intestine. The adult worms pass eggs with the bird's droppings. When the eggs reach water, they hatch into free-swimming organisms which then penetrate snails for further development. Finally, after leaving the snails they burrow into the skin of fish and form a cyst. The fish surrounds the cyst with black pigment that gives the disease its name. If an infected fish is consumed by a bird, the cycle repeats itself.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Black Spot Disease (Neascus)" (PDF). Adfg.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  2. ↑ "Fish diseases: Neascus (Black spot disease): Minnesota DNR". Dnr.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  3. ↑ "Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Fish Health Issues - Volume 2, Issue 9 - Black Spot in Bass". Maine.gov. 2000-09-09. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  4. ↑ Modupe O. Williamsa. "Journal of Helminthology - The Neascus (Posthodiplostomulum) Stage of Posthodiplostomutn nanum Dubois and an Experimental Determination of Part of the Life Cycle". Journal of Helminthology. 41: 269. doi:10.1017/S0022149X00021659.
  5. ↑ "DNR: Fish Parasites & Diseases". In.gov. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
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