Prevalence and diversity of fish-borne zoonotic trematodes in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in Guangdong, China

TY - ABST

T1 - Prevalence and diversity of fish-borne zoonotic trematodes in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in Guangdong, China

AU - Li, Kang

AU - Murrell, Kenneth Darwin

AU - Clausen, Jesper Hedegaard

AU - Dalsgaard, Anders

AU - Liu, Liping

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - The fishborne zoonotic trematode parasites (FZT) which cause liver and intestinal infections in humans are widespread in fish in Southeast Asia. Guangdong Province is the most important region for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in China, but it is also an endemic region for FZT. To assess the potential for FZT transmission in an area with high density of tilapia farms, wild-caught fish from local rivers and canals were bought at local markets. The wild-caught fish species included Hemiculter leucisculus (145), Rhodeus sinensis Gunther (10), Rasborinus lineatus (96), Squaliobarbus curriculus (6), and Carassius auratus (4).The FZT species recovered were mainly Haplorchis taichui, and H. pumilio along with some unknown species whose identifications are still being determined. Subsequently a cross-sectional survey for the prevalence and diversity of FZT in tilapia culture systems was conducted in Guangdong Province during August-October 2011. A total of 389 tilapias sized 2.33-1450.00 g were collected from 30 farms, and examined for FZT metacercariae by the pepsin digestion method. Ten percent of the farms surveyed had fish with FZT infections. The overall FZT prevalence in fish was 1.5% and the infection intensity was 0.12 metacercaria/100 g. The infection in nursery farms was higher than that in grow-out farms (3.18 % versus 0.43 %). Our findings show a low prevalence of FZT in the farmed tilapia. Further studies are needed to assess the associated risk factors for FZT infection in particular at the nursery stage of production.

AB - The fishborne zoonotic trematode parasites (FZT) which cause liver and intestinal infections in humans are widespread in fish in Southeast Asia. Guangdong Province is the most important region for tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture in China, but it is also an endemic region for FZT. To assess the potential for FZT transmission in an area with high density of tilapia farms, wild-caught fish from local rivers and canals were bought at local markets. The wild-caught fish species included Hemiculter leucisculus (145), Rhodeus sinensis Gunther (10), Rasborinus lineatus (96), Squaliobarbus curriculus (6), and Carassius auratus (4).The FZT species recovered were mainly Haplorchis taichui, and H. pumilio along with some unknown species whose identifications are still being determined. Subsequently a cross-sectional survey for the prevalence and diversity of FZT in tilapia culture systems was conducted in Guangdong Province during August-October 2011. A total of 389 tilapias sized 2.33-1450.00 g were collected from 30 farms, and examined for FZT metacercariae by the pepsin digestion method. Ten percent of the farms surveyed had fish with FZT infections. The overall FZT prevalence in fish was 1.5% and the infection intensity was 0.12 metacercaria/100 g. The infection in nursery farms was higher than that in grow-out farms (3.18 % versus 0.43 %). Our findings show a low prevalence of FZT in the farmed tilapia. Further studies are needed to assess the associated risk factors for FZT infection in particular at the nursery stage of production.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - AQUA 2012

Y2 - 1 September 2012 through 5 September 2012

ER -