Infectious diseases and treatment solutions of farmed greater amberjack Seriola dumerili with particular emphasis in Mediterranean region

Abstract

Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) is a very promising candidate for the diversification of the Mediterranean aquaculture due to its high demand, excellent flesh quality and high market prices. Its production expansion has, however, failed so far, due to several bottlenecks mainly related to pathology. This review addresses the major pathogens, which hinder the culture of greater amberjack with special focus in the Mediterranean region, and highlights possible treatment solutions. Among the important recorded pathogens of caged greater amberjack in the Mediterranean, the gill monogenean Zeuxapta seriolae seems to be the most problematic, causing significant losses. While formalin immersions are inefficient to combat this parasite, baths with hydrogen peroxide are extremely effective and praziquantel administration could be a more practical in-feed treatment solution. The digenean blood flukes, Paradeontacylix spp., also account for important losses in greater amberjack farms in the same region. Dietary administration of praziquantel constitutes an effective therapeutic measure against those infections. Vibrio harveyi is also a bacterial pathogen severely affecting fish maintained both in land-based facilities and in cages, whereas Epitheliocystis is a disease reported frequently that can be fatal when it occurs at early stages. Skin flukes such as Benedenia seriolae and Neobenedenia girellae as well as other parasites bacteria and viruses mentioned herein, which have caused substantial losses in Asian enterprises, but have not been identified yet in greater amberjack farmed in the Mediterranean, should be considered as potential threats.

Four polyopisthocotyleans (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) from carangid fishes in the Mediterranean, off the Algerian coasts

“…(2004) ; Repullés-Albelda et al. (2013) NE Mediterranean, off Greece Rigos et al. (2021) NW Mediterranean, off Italy De Liberato et al.…”

Occurrence of Neobenedenia girellae (Monogenea: Capsalidae) in Gilthead Seabream Sparus aurata (Actinopterygii: Sparidae) Cultured in Portugal

“…Several fish species from different families are susceptible to N. girellae infection: among the species farmed in European waters, the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is reported to be particularly susceptible [ 17 ], although no outbreaks have been recorded so far in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Northeastern Atlantic.…”

“…In fact, both species exhibit low host specificity, being reported from several farmed fish species, such as the greater amberjack S. dumerili , the yellowtail amberjack Seriola quinqueradiata , the tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes , the Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus , the cobia Rachycentron canadum and the spotted halibut Verasper variegatus [ 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 ]. In the farming of some of these species, particularly the greater amberjack, N. girellae causes high mortality and represent a main production bottleneck [ 8 , 17 ].…”

A decision support tool for parasite management in fish aquaculture

“…Innovation in parasite prevention benefits from deep knowledge of biology and behaviour of both fish hosts and parasites 1–7 . Yet, the fish aquaculture industry continues to have to rely to a large extent on medicinal baths or osmotic shift to treat ectoparasitic protozoans, flatworms and sea‐lice 8–12 . Medicinal baths are more effective if they are applied when parasite infection intensities are low and when they are timed to interrupt parasite life cycles (i.e., treatment intervals or therapeutic windows).…”

“…treat ectoparasitic protozoans, flatworms and sea-lice. [8][9][10][11][12] Medicinal baths are more effective if they are applied when parasite infection intensities are low and when they are timed to interrupt parasite life cycles (i.e., treatment intervals or therapeutic windows). Repeated use of chemotherapeutants drives the development of resistance in ectoparasites given their high fecundity and short life cycles, 13 thus strategically timed treatments are important because they alleviate treatment frequency and limit the amount of chemicals permeating into surrounding ecosystems.…”