Winter saprolegniosis in channel catfish

Abstract

Pure cultures of fungus were isolated from commercially raised Ictalurus punctatus exhibiting overt signs of a winter syndrome localy termed "winter kill'. The fungal isolates were identified as members of the genus Saprolegnia. Experiments strongly suggest that "winter kill' syndrome in catfish is an immunodeficiency disease of fungal rather than bacterial etiology and is probably better termed "winter saprolegniosis'. -from Authors