Concepts of Fish Diseases
1. Triad of Disease Occurrence
Disease develops only when three factors interact:
● Bad Environment
● Susceptible Host
● Virulent Pathogen
If any one is missing (e.g., weak pathogen), disease does not occur.
2. Stress in Fish
Definition:
Stress = physiological response by which the fish tries to maintain or re-establish a normal
metabolism in the face of stressors
Types of Stressors:
● Physical: temperature change, low O₂, ammonia, overcrowding, rough handling, pH
shifts.
● Chemical: pollution, heavy metals.
● Biological: sewage, bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Mono-stressors: one type only.
Multi-stressors: combination of types.
3. Sources of Infection in Fish Farms
● Infected or carrier fish
● Dead fish carcasses
● Aquatic birds
● Aquatic plants
● Migrating fish
● Feed
● Contaminated water or soil
● Tools & utensils
4. Classification by Epizootiology
● Sporadic: few fish affected (e.g. congenital disease)
● Enzootic: low-level recurrent disease in certain areas (e.g. saprolegnia)
● Epizootic: outbreak in one area (e.g. vibriosis)
● Panzootic: widespread outbreak across countries (e.g. MAS)
Classification & Stress Mechanism
5. Classification by Etiology
A. Infectious:
● Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites
● Invasive: parasites like protozoa, helminths, crustaceans
B. Non-infectious:
● Injuries
● Toxins (metals, gases, organics)
● Nutritional deficiencies
6. Types & Forms of Infections
Types:
● Primary/simple: caused by one pathogen
● Mixed: multiple pathogens
● Secondary: occurs due to primary stress/infection
Forms (by course):
● Per-acute
● Acute
● Sub-acute
● Chronic
● Carrier state
7. Stress Response Mechanism
Phase 1: Alarm Stage
● Neural-hormonal (Corticosteroids released)
● ↓ WBCs, ↓ muscle protein, ↓ immunity
Phase 2: Adaptation Stage
● Metabolism shifts to resist stress
Phase 3: Exhaustive Stage
● ↓ Growth
● ↓ Spawning
● ↑ susceptibility to infection
Immune Effects & MCQs
8. Stress Effects on Immune System
● ↓ MAF uptake by macrophages → ↓ phagocytosis
● ↑ α2-macroglobulins → ↓ protease → ↓ bacterial killing
● ↓ Lymphocytes in immune organs
● ↓ Goblet cells → ↓ mucus protection
9. Multiple Choice Key Ideas
● Stress is a major cause of fish disease
● Worst stressor = physical + chemical
● ACTH stimulates internal cells to release cortisol
● Immune suppression includes: ↓ monocytes, ↓ MAF activity
● Probiotics = beneficial microbes
● Epizootic = local outbreak
● Panzootic = wide area outbreak
● Pathogen = disease-causing organism
● Virulence = ability of pathogen to cause disease
● Infectious diseases = parasitic, bacterial, viral
● Chemical stressor = pollution, poor water quality
● 3 essentials for disease: Host + Pathogen + Environment
