Efficacy of High Water Temperature Treatment of Myxosporean Emaciation Disease Caused by Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa)

Abstract

The effect of elevated water temperature on the myxosporean emaciation disease caused by Enteromyxum leei was tested in experimentally infected anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris and naturally infected Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus. Anemonefish reared at 30°C following infection had significantly lower parasite prevalence compared to fish reared at 23°C. After infection in anemonefish held at 23°C for 20 days, elevation of water temperature to 30°C reduced the prevalence. Holding infected Malabar grouper at 30°C resulted in a clearing of E. leei within 6 days. Histopathological observations showed that E. leei was eliminated following exfoliation of the intestinal epithelial cells. Although further replication of the study would be required, these results suggested that high water temperature treatment had a preventive and therapeutic effect on myxosporean emaciation disease.