Report on Microscopic Examination Fish for Disease Infection

INTRODUCTION
Due to increased mortality numbers in a fish cage, A total of 10 fish samples were collected for
examination for identification of underlying fish diseases.

METHODS
Microscopic Examination
Gram staining procedure was applied to stain the pathogen cells before observation of the slides
under the microscope.
External Examination

• Body surface including scales, gills, fins and operculum fish specimens were
examined for external parasites and associated pathological features.
• Scrapings from the fish skin were taken with a cover slip on dorsal part of the head
and ventral region of the fish from head to just after the anal point and from fins.
• The sample was then covered with a coverslip and examined under compound
microscope on 40x magnification.
Internal Examination

• The brain was also extracted and smeared on the slide.

• The fish were dissected ventrally from the mouth along the middle of abdomen to the
anus
• then further along the lateral line up to the operculum.
• Pericardial cavity, mesentery, liver, gonads, body cavity, sites behind the gills and
other internal organs were checked for parasites by naked eyes and microscopically.
• The head kidney and mid kidney was extracted and the sample prepared for gram
staining..
• The Liver and the spleen were also observed and prepared for staining.

RESULTS
Mortality
According to the feeders and the mortality data record, since the stocking, the cage had been
experiencing substantially higher number of daily mortality collected compared to other cages.
External clinical symptoms
The following clinical signs were observed during sample collection.

• High mortality
• Lethargy
• Cottony mycelium like patches from the nostril to the first dorsal fin and around the
lateral line.
• Reddening of the lips/mouth
• Swimming upside down
• Darkening of the body
• Caudal fin rot

Fig 1: White patches and fin rot Fig 2: Reddening of the mouth

Internal clinical symptoms

• Enlarged spleen
• Pale liver
 • Fluid in the brain

Fig:3 Enlarged ad darkened spleen Fig:4 Pale and enlarged head kidney

Fig:5 Pale Liver Fig:6 White patches in gills

Microscopic Observation after Gram staining

Fig 7: Skin smear showing white cells

Fig 7: Brain smear with white cells and bleeding

Fig:8 Liver slides showing white cells.

Fig:9 Gills slide

Fig:10 Brain slide

DISCUSSION
The observation of external and internal organs for clinical signs indicate that there is presence of
white colony patches on the skin and while cells in the internal organs. This could be a possible
indication of fungal infection in the cage.
The infection could have started since stocking of the cage as seen on the persistent mortality on
the cage throughout the culture period.
A sharp mortality rise could have been caused by a recent slight drop in water temperatures. The
morning readings in December to January was averaging 25.5Cͦ to 24.5Cͦ in February.