Diseases of Cultured Groupers
Kazuya Nagasawa and Erlinda R. Cruz-Lacierda
Editors
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Aquaculture Department
Government of Japan Trust Fund
December 2004
Diseases of Cultured Groupers
December 2004
ISBN 971-8511-70-9
Coryright 2004
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department
Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher.
Citation is as follows:
Nagasawa, K. and E. R. Cruz-Lacierda (eds.) 2004: Diseases of cultured groupers. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department, Iloilo, Philippines. 81 p.
Published by:
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)
Aquaculture Department (AQD)
Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines
For inquiries and comments:
Fish Health Section
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)
Aquaculture Department (AQD)
Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines
Fax: (63 33) 335 1008, (63 33) 336 2891
E-mail: aqdchief@aqd.seafdec.org.ph, training@aqd.seafdec.org.ph
AQD website: http://www.seafdec.org.ph/
Aquaculture production has been growing for over two decades in Southeast Asia. Fish disease is always a major constraint and threat to aquaculture production in this region. Numerous infectious diseases have been reported from fish and shrimp cultured in the region. Currently, several emerging diseases are also recognized. These diseases cause large-scale mass mortalities of cultured species, inducing devastating losses to regional aquaculture production.
Groupers are recognized as economically-important marine fish and abundantly cultured in Southeast Asia for domestic consumption and overseas export. Various diseases occur in grouper aquaculture and frequently create serious problems.
The Government of Japan is funding the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/AQD) based in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines, through the Regional Fish Disease Project to address various fish disease problems in Southeast Asia. Under the title of "Development of Fish Disease Inspection Methodologies for Artificially-Bred Seeds,"the first phase of the project was implemented for five years from 2000 to 2004. During this period, many activities including research, hands-on trainings, international meetings and dissemination of information were conducted.
The present publication entitled "Diseases of Cultured Groupers"is one of the outputs from the Regional Fish Disease Project. This book compiles information on various diseases of groupers and was written by the staff of Fish Health Section of SEAFDEC/AQD (Dr. Gilda D. Lio-Po, Dr. Erlinda R. Cruz-Lacierda, Dr. Celia R. Lavilla-Pitogo, Dr. Leobert D. de la Peņa, Ms. Eleonor A. Tendencia, Dr. Edgar C. Amar, Dr. Elena S. Catap and Ms. Gregoria E. Erazo-Pagador).
I hope that the book will provide practical information to prevent and manage disease outbreaks, reduce mortality, and improve fish production, and thus utilize more efficiently the existing grouper seed resources.
I sincerely thank three scientists, Dr. Leong Tak Seng (LTS Consultancy, Penang, Malaysia), Dr. Supranee Chinabut (Department of Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand) and Dr. Toshihiro Nakai (Faculty of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Japan) for carefully reviewing the draft of this book. I also gratefully acknowledge the following persons for giving permission to reproduce their photographs or illustrations for this book: Mr. Yukio Maeno (Seikai National Research Institute of Fisheries, Nagasaki, Japan), Dr. Kei Yuasa (National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Tamaki, Japan), Dr. Somkiat Kanchanakhan (Aquatic Animal Health Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand), Mr. Zafran (Gondol Research Institute for Mariculture, Bali, Indonesia), Ms. Isti Koesharyani (Fish Health Research Laboratory, Jakarta, Indonesia), Mr. Lin Li (Guandong Daya Wan Fisheries Development Center, Guandong, China), Dr. Il-Hoi Kim (Department of Biology, Kangreung National University, Kangreung, Korea) and Dr. Leong Tak Seng.
Kazuya Nagasawa, Ph.D.
Fish Disease Expert and Leader of the Regional Fish Disease Project
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department
Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines
December 2004
Preface
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1. Viral Diseases - Gilda D. Lio-Po and Leobert D. de la Pena
Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN)
Iridovirus Infections
Fish Lymphocystis Disease (FLD)
Blister Disease
Red Seabream Iridovirus Disease (RSIVD) 10 Sleepy Grouper Disease (SGD)
Grouper Iridovirus Disease of Taiwan (TGIVD)
Grouper Spawner Iridovirus Disease (GSIVD)
Grouper Iridovirus Disease (GIVD)
Singapore Grouper Iridovirus Disease (SGIVD)
References
Chapter 2. Bacterial Diseases - Eleonor A. Tendencia and Celia R. Lavilla-Pitogo 19
Vibriosis
Pseudomonas Infection
Streptococcal Infection
Flexibacter Infection
Bacterial Gill Disease
Fin Rot
References
Chapter 3. Fungal Disease - Elena S. Catap and Gilda D. Lio-Po
Ichthyophoniosis
References
Chapter 4. Parasitic Diseases - Erlinda R. Cruz-Lacierda and Gregoria E. Erazo-Pagador
Infections Caused by Protozoans
Amyloodiniosis
Cryptocaryosis
Trichodiniosis
Brooklynelliosis
Renal Sphaerosporosis
Microsporidiosis
Infections Caused by Monogeneans
Skin Monogeneans
Gill Monogeneans
Infections Caused by Didymozoid Digeneans
Infections Caused by Nematodes
Infections Caused by Caligid Copepods
Infections Caused by Isopods
Infections Caused by Leeches
References
Chapter 5. Nutritional Diseases - Edgar C. Amar and Celia R. Lavilla-Pitogo
Lipidosis
Fish Scurvy
EFA Deficiency
Nutritional Myopathy Accompanying Ceroidosis
Thiamin Deficiency
References
Chapter 6. Environmental Diseases - Gregoria E. Erazo-Pagador and Erlinda R. Cruz-Lacierda
Swim Bladder Stress Syndrome (SBSS)
Gas Bubble Disease (GBD)
References
Appendices
Glossary
The groupers belong to the subfamily Epinephelinae and the family Serranidae. They are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions. The groupers are of great economic value and are a major component of the coastal fisheries in Asia. At least 21 species of groupers are cultured in Asia with the following as the most popular (English and scientific names follow suggestions of FishBase, http://www.fishbase.org/): orange-spotted grouper
(Epinephelus coioides, junior synonym: E. suillus); malabar grouper
(E. malabaricus, junior synonym: E. salmoides); greasy grouper (E.
tauvina); brown-marbled grouper (E. fuscoguttatus); duskytail grouper
(E. bleekeri); giant grouper (E. lanceolatus); palemargin grouper
(E. bontoides); camouflage grouper (E. polyphekadion); convict grouper
(E. septemfasciatus); Hong Kong grouper (E. akaara); longtooth grouper
(E. bruneus, junior synonym: E. moara); yellow grouper (E. awoara); leopard coralgrouper (Plectropomus leopardus); spotted coralgrouper
(P. maculatus); and humpback grouper (Cromileptes
altivelis).
In 1997, the Asia-Pacific region contributed about 90% to the total world aquaculture production. The regional production of cultured groupers was estimated at 15,000 metric tons (MT), with China as the biggest producer contributing 8,000 MT followed closely by Indonesia. Other countries in the region commonly produce 1,000-2,000 MT annually in 1990-1997.
Groupers are generally cultured in floating net cages or earthen ponds, but cage culture is more common in Southeast Asia. Although grouper culture is popular in the region, its sustainability is hampered by the limited availability of seed stocks. Majority of the grouper fry and fingerlings are wild-caught, with some produced from hatcheries.
A major production constraint in grouper culture is heavy mortality due to diseases. Aside from the health status of the fish during culture, they are also subjected to considerable stress during collection and transportation. Diseases of cultured groupers may be caused by infectious disease agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Non-infectious disease agents such as nutritional imbalances and environmental factors may also lead to disease.
The objective of this book is to provide information on diseases observed among the major species of groupers cultured in the region. It includes the common name of the disease, causative agent, stages affected, gross clinical signs, effects on the host, transmission, diagnosis, and methods of prevention and control. A list of references at the end of each chapter is included for detailed information about the diseases. Appendices and Glossary are found at the end of the book. In cases where treatment is indicated, it is best to do this under the guidance of a fish health specialist to avoid unnecessary loss of stock.
Kazuya Nagasawa and Erlinda R. Cruz-Lacierda, The Editors
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department
Tigbauan 5021, Iloilo, Philippines