Infections of Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel and S. dumerili (Risso) in Japan by Benedenia seriolae (Monogenea) confirmed by morphology and 28S ribosomal DNA analysis

• Published in: Journal of fish diseases 2001-09, Vol.24 (7), p.421-425
• Main Authors: Whittington, I D, Corneillie, S, Talbot, C, Morgan, J A T, Adlard, R D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benedenia seriolae; Marine; Seriola dumerili; Seriola quinqueradiata
• ISSN: 0140-7775; 1365-2761
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2761.2001.00309.x

Benedenia seriolae (Yamaguti 1934) Meserve, 1938 (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea: Monopisthocotylea) has achieved notoriety as a pathogen of some cultivated carangid fish in Japan. Knowledge of the carangid host range of B. seriolae, however, has been sparse. Monogeneans are known to be among the most host-specific of parasites, but problems with carangid taxonomy has confused the identification of what species of fish in Japan are thought to be infected by B. seriolae. The Japanese yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata (Carangidae), has been the focus of intense aquaculture throughout Japan. An initial attempt to farm Japanese yellowtail was made in 1927 at Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku. Commercial farming commenced in the 1950s, but sea cage culture began in the early 1960s. Significant health problems of Japanese yellowtail caused by B. seriolae have since been documented. The threat posed by B. seriolae to culture of S. quinqueradiata in Japan was thought to be under control during the late 1960s to the early 1980s. This has been attributed now to use of an antifoulant paint, tributyl tin oxide (TBTO), which was reported to be toxic to the ciliated larvae and possibly to the eggs. However, TBTO use was banned in Japan on 23 July 1990 because of considerable concerns worldwide about environmental toxicity.