G. Rigos, K. Grigorakis, I. Nengas, P. Christophilogiannis, M. Yiagnisi, M. Koutsodimou, A. Andriopoulou, M. Alexis-1998
Bull. Eur. Ass. Fish Pathol., 18(1): 15
Abstract:
High mortalities of pathological origin were evident when juvenile common dentex (Dentex dentex) L. were exposed to stress situations and increased handling. The pathological examination of an outbreak revealed the presence of two parasites, two bacterial pathogens and a chlamydia-like organism. These pathological findings that were accompanied with a moderate agonistic behaviour of the fish and cannibalism signs seem to be associated with the relatively high susceptibility of common dentex to stress conditions. The stressed individuals were found to succumb easily to disease problems leading to progressive mortalities. Similar findings appeared in the investigation of a new disease incidence due to bacterial infections. Neither pathological signs nor agonistic behaviour or cannibalism bites were evident when the fish were exposed to minimum stress situations and not extensively handled.
(Fish Pathology and Nutrition Lab, National Centre for Marine Research, Hellinikon, Aghios Cosmas, 16604 Greece)