MYCOTIC ASPECTS OF EPIZOOTIC ULCERATIVE SYNDROME (EUS) OF ASIAN FISHES

A survey of fish affected with epizootic ulcerative syndrome taken fro m outbreaks in countries throughout South and South-East Asia showed t hat a morphologically typical fungus was consistently present within l esions. Although the majority of the fungal mycelium was dead in most lesions it proved possible to isolate a very delicate and culturally d emanding Aphanomyces from such lesions in a few cases. It also proved relatively easy to isolate other members of the Saprolegniaceae includ ing Aphanomyces from the surface of lesions, but these were considered saprophytes derived from background spore burdens in the water. Spora ngium morphology of the putatively pathogenic isolates of Aphanomyces was different from that of saprophytic Aphanomyces strains and they al so had a lower thermal tolerance. When a mycelium from these strains w as placed below the dermis of healthy fish, it caused an inflammatory response and proceeded to migrate down into the tissues of the fish, i nducing severe myonecrosis with chronic epithelial reaction. The sapro phytic isolates induced a local host response followed by healing of t he induced lesion, and destruction or expulsion of the mycelium. It is considered that the specific slow-growing, thermo-labile Aphanomyces is the pathogenic fungus which causes so much tissue damage in this di sease, although it may not be a primary pathogen in its own right.