Thermal effluent and the epizootiology of the ciliate epistylis and the bacterium aeromonas in association with centrarchid fish

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3225393· OSTI ID:5935221

Esch, G W; Hazen, T C; Dimock, Jr, R V; Gibbons, J W

Epistylis sp. (Caliophora: Peritricha) is a facultative ectosymbiont of fresh-water fishes in streams and lakes throughout the southeastern U.S. In combination with the gram-negative bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, epizootic outbreaks of Epistylis have been implicated in the death of many thousands of game fish, primarily striped bass and several species of Centrarchidae (sunfish), in several reservoirs in North Carolina. While these epizootics have been correlated with high levels of organic loading, recent studies suggest that thermal loading from a nuclear production facility may influence the level of infection by A. hydrophila and Epistylis sp. (A-E complex) on centrarchid sunfish in Par Pond, Savannah River Plant, Aiken, S.C. Utilizing electro-fishing techniques, in excess of 11,500 sunfish, representing six different species, were collected and examined for external lesions associated with the A-E complex. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were most heavily infected, followed in incidence of infection by bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) and redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus); lesions were not observed on the surface of black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus). The body conditions (or K-factor) of more than 2,000 largemouth bass were calculated; direct correlations were found between thermal loading, body condition, and incidence of infection. These data are discussed in terms of thermal effluent and the epizootiology of Epistylis sp. and Aeromonas hydrophila.

• Research Organization: Wake Forest Univ., Winston-Salem, NC
• OSTI ID: 5935221
• Journal Information: Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 95:4; ISSN TAMSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220503 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Chemical & Thermal Effluents
520400* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Thermal Effluents Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
COOLING PONDS
DISEASES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FISHES
INJURIES
INVERTEBRATES
MICROORGANISMS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POLLUTION
PONDS
POWER PLANTS
PROTOZOA
SAMPLING
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
STRIPED BASS
SURFACE WATERS
SYMBIOSIS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
WATER RESERVOIRS
WOUNDS