Dermatological diseases affecting fishes of the Tar-Pamlico Estuary, North Carolina

Abstract

Over the last several years, various epidemic dermatological diseases have been observed in fishes of the Tar-Pamlico estuary. The most important is ulcerative mycosis, an infection associated with oomycete fungi that affects Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus . In the present report we describe lesions resembling ulcerative mycosis in other estuarine species such as southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma , hickory shad Alosa mediocris , striped bass Morone saxatilis , bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix , Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus , weakfish Cynoscion regalis , spot Leiostomus xanthurus , silver perch Bairdiella chrysura , pinfish Lagodon rhomboides , and hogchoker Trinectes maculatus . Less prevalent dermatological diseases were also observed including lymphocystis, bacterial dermatitis and myositis, Argulus dermatitis, Henneguya myositis, and various idiopathic dermatopathies. Only one tumor, a fibroma, was seen. The occurrence of many of these diseases is of concern to fisheries managers because of their potential impact upon estuarine fish populations. The relationship of the observed diseases to environmental problems is presently unknown