Disease caused by crustaceans

Argulosis

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

Disease symptom

• Parasites cause open wounds on fish bodies and secondary infection by fungal diseases.
• Fish show red blotches on the skin caused by the ting of parasites.
• Fish continuously rub themselves against other objects or jump out of the water.
• Since it sucks blood, fish becomes weaker and cause death.
• Acts as a vector for fungal and bacterial diseases.

Control:

• Pond treatment with Diptera @ 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.