Infection of tilapia, <i>Oreochromis mossambicus</i> (Trewavas), by a marine monogenean, <i>Neobenedenia melleni</i> (MacCallum, 1927) Yamaguti, 1963 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, USA, and its treatment

Abstract

Abstract A disease of saltwater, cage‐cultured tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Trewavas), caused by the marine monogenean, Neobenedenia melleni (MacCallum, 1927) Yamaguti, 1963, is described. Up to 400 parasites were found attached to the body surface of individual fish. Heavily infected fish showed hyperirritability, heavy mucus secretion and discoloration. Pathology was most marked on the eye, with corneal opacity initially, followed by buphthalmos, corneal ulceration and rupture of the eye with subsequent degeneration of internal structure. The infection was successfully treated using 2 min freshwater dips.