Occurrence of the myxosporean emaciation disease caused by Enteromyxum leei in cultured Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus

Abstract

In 2008, the myxosporean emaciation disease was found in cultured Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus in a fish farm in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The disease occurred in winter when water temperature ranged from 21 to 26°C, and the cumulative mortality reached 20-50% among culture tanks. In affected fish, cranial bones were externally apparent due to severe emaciation. The intestinal wall was very thin and the liver exhibited conspicuous green color. Morphological and molecular analyses demonstrated that the causative myxosporean was Enteromyxum leei. Histopathological examinations revealed that the epithelia of the intestine and bile duct of diseased fish were heavily infected with E. leei. The common bile duct was often obstructed by severe inflammation with degenerated tissues and bacteria, suggesting that the abnormal color of the liver was caused by cholestasis. Some diseased fish recovered in a laboratory when water temperature increased naturally to 27-30°C in summer months, and the parasite was not detected in those fish. Experimental transmission of E. leei to naive Malabar grouper was successfully achieved by cohabitation with infected grouper or by feeding with the feces of infected fish. This is a new host and locality record for E. leei.