Fish health management on the farm Part I: Preventive and Curative Measures

摘要

Discase is a major limiting factor in the growth and overall profitability of commercial aquaculture throughout the world. In broad terms, fish disease can be classified as being either infections or non-infectious in nature. The causative agents ofinfections disease can be parasitic, bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Although it is true to say that in many eases potentially infections agents are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment, they are normally present in low numbers and therefore do not pose a threat. Indeed, most are described as 'oppoitunistic' and only cause disease when the Fish's immune system is suppressed and functioning sub-optimally. Non-infectious diseases include 'nutritional diseases' with a range of causes, including vitamin and mineral/trace element deficiencies. However, such diseases are rare in commercial aquaculture as a consequence of the widespread availability of high quality manufactured feed.