Disease caused by crustaceans

Argulosis

• Causative agent: Argulus foliaceus
• Commonly known as fish lice.

Disease symptom

• Parasites causes open wounds on fish body and the secondary infection by fungal diseases.
• Fish shows red blotches on the skins caused by sting of parasite.
• Fush continuously rub itself against other objects or jumps out the water.
• Since, it sucks blood, fish becomes weaker and cause death.
• Acts as vector for fungal and bacterial diseases.

Control:

• Pond treatment with dipterex @ 0.25 ppm till no parasite is observed.
• 3-5 minutes bath in 2% common salt solution
• Indefinite pond treatment with 0.25 ppm KMnO₄.
• Glacial acetic acid solution 500-1000 ppm bath for 5 minutes.
• Removal of parasites by forceps followed by a bath in weak KMnO₄ solution for 2-3 minutes.
• Use of sticks as egg traps.