Prevention of Lagenidiales infections in Artemia salina larvae by high pH of rearing water


H. Yasunobu-2001

Fish Pathology, 36(2): 79-82  (from Current Contents)

Abstract :

The effect of high pH (pH 9.25) of rearing water on the prevention of infection of the brine shrimp Artemia salina larvae with four fungal species of Lagenidiales was examined. The four fungi, all pathogenic to crustaceans, were Halocrusticida parasitica isolated from greasyback shrimp Metapenaeus ensis, Haliphthoros sp. and Haliphthoros milfordensis isolated from swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus and Lagenidium callinectes isolated from mud crab Scylla serrata. The in vitro growth of Halocrusticida parasitica was reduced at pH 9.25 and no infection was observed in the brine shrimp exposed to zoospores in the sea water at pH 9.25. The in vitro growth of Haliphthoros sp. and Haliphthoros milfordensis was reduced at pH 9.25 and infection rates at pH 9.25 were about half of the rate at pH 8. The growth of L. callinectes was not arrested at pH 9.25 and the infection rate at pH 9.25 was 100%. These results indicate that the pH adjustment of rearing water to 9.25 can be used to prevent infections with Halocrusticida parasitica and the two species of Haliphthoros in swimming crab larvae, but not for the infection with L. callinectes.

(Hyogo Prefectural Fisheries Expt Stn, Minami Futami 22-2, Akashi, Hyogo 6740093, Japan, e-mail: yasunobu@portnet.ne.jp)


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