Histopathology of fish. III. Peduncle ("cold-water") disease
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Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
Geology topics
W. T. Yasutake
Publications and source records attributed to W. T. Yasutake.
Histopathologic changes of a virus-like disease of sockeye salmon
Rucker et al., (1953) described a disease of sockeye salmon ( O ncorhynchus nerka ) of possible viral etiology. First seen in Washington in 1951 with relatively minor losses, the disease recurred in 1952 killing over two million fingerling salmon with a mortality rate of 91.5 percent (Watson, 1954). In 1953, the disease was present in every sockeye salmon hatchery in the state. Rucker, Watson and their associates have demonstrated that the disease is infectious, caused by a serially-transmissible and filterable agent, and specific for one species of fish. Watson et al., (1956) have described the hematology of infected salmon. The present paper deals with the histopathology of the disease.
Transactions of the American Microscopical Society↗
Tissue damage in salmonids caused by Halisidota argentata Packard
During the histological examination of a collection of wild and hatchery salmonids, a peculiar foreign body was occasionally observed in various organs, particularly in the viscera. These objects, usually accompanied by a focal inflammation, were observed in 10 of 75 samples of wild trout and salmon collected in Oregon and Washington and were believed to represent an unknown type of parasitism. Their identity remained obscure until a massive concentration was observed in the tissues of wild coho salmon, ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ), from Minter Creek on the Olympic peninsula of Washington and in hatchery coho salmon from the Minter Creek Biological Station. The distribution of the structures suggested the intestinal tract as a point of origin. Subsequent stomach examinations revealed small, partially digested insect fragments with many long, spine-covered hairs. The insects were identified as second or third instars of the lepidopteran larvae, Halisidota argentata Packard. The spine-covered hairs penetrated the stomach wall and produced the observed lesions by working in an apparent porcupine quill-fashion throughout the body of the fish. The pathology of the Minter Creek salmon was sufficiently extensive to merit a description of the condition for the benefit of other workers who may encounter this rather unusual phenomenon and confuse it with an actual parasitic infection.
Oregon, Washington↗
Ceroid in fish
Since the original description of ceroid in rats, many papers have appeared on the etiology and characteristics of this pigment. It was first seen as a yellow, granular pigment in hematoxylin and eosin sections of the cirrhotic livers of choline deficient rats. The pigment was more fully characterized by Endicott and Lillie, and additional stainging reactions were summarized recently by Lillie. The pigment is sudanophilic in paraffin sections, acid-fast, basophilic, isotropic, iron negative, and highly resistant to solution in water, alcohol, fat solvents, and dilute aqueous acids and alkalis. It is stained by Mallory's hemofuscin stain and Weigert's myelin stain. It reduces osmium tetraoxide and diamine silver carbonate but not ferric ferricyanide. The Gmelin reactions for bile pigments is negative. It has a greenish yellow fluorescence at 3650-3660 Å. It is Schiff positive with or without antecedent diastase digestion after performic or periodic acid oxidation.
The American Journal of Pathology↗
Histopathology of kidney disease in fish
Kidney disease is one of the most puzzling fish diseases known to exist in the United States. In less than Io years it has invaded the Pacific Northwest, exacting a heavy toll of hatchery salmon. Its first appearance apparently was in Massachusetts where Belding and Merrill' described a disease similar to that now seen on the Pacific Coast. In I946 it was diagnosed in Washington2 and since that time has been observed in an ever increasing number of hatcheries. There are unpublished reports of the same or similar diseases in both California and Washington in the early I93o's.3 The latest outbreaks occurred in the Federal hatcheries at Berlin, New Hampshire, and Cortland, New York, in brook, brown, and rainbow trout.4 There is evidence to indicate that the disease may be much more widely spread in New York State.5 The disease is especially dangerous since little is known of the origin or source of the causative agent. Indeed, the classification of the diplobacillus associated with kidney disease is still uncertain. Thus, with our present knowledge, it is difficult or impossible to eradicate the malady from an infected hatchery. Histopathologic studies were undertaken to clarify the pathology of the disease and to compare the eastern form with the western form.
American Journal of Pathology↗
A mycosis-like granuloma of fish
Mycoses of systemic distribution are rarely observed in fresh-water fish in this country. In a recent review of atypical cell growths in fishes, Nigrelli cited the only known instance of a mycetoma in a North American fresh-water fish which occurred in the head of fingerling landlocked salmon from an Idaho hatchery. The fungus associated with this granuloma was characterized by a branching septate mycelium. Rucker reported a streptomycete which was pathogenic to blueblack salmon. This organism produced internal nodules containing masses of hyphae but no inflammatory response. A pathogenic fungus has been observed frequently in marine fish, however, and in both marine and fresh-water fish in Europe. This organism was tentatively classified as a Phycomycete in or near the order Chytridiales and was assigned to the genus and species Ichthyophonus hoferi , later reclassified as Ichthyosporidium hoferi . The graduloma described in this report occurs in fresh-water trout and is apparently caused by a budding, yeast-like form with no hyphae which evokes a tremendous inflammatory reaction. Morphologically, the organism does not resemble the previously described Ichthyosporidium. The lesions were first seen accidentally in sections prepared from a diplobacillus infection of brook trout termed “kidney disease.” Subsequently, the granuloma was observed in three widely separated infections involving the diplobacillus in each instance. The histological material was received in a fixed condition; thus, no cultural data was available and the nomenclature and classification of the mycotic organism were not attempted. The present distribution of the disease, however, with its potential threat to domestic fish populations, seemed to warrant a description and discussion of the disease. Efforts are in progress to culture the organism.
Journal of Infectious Diseases↗
Histopathology of fish: I. Techniques and principles
The techniques of histopathology have been used for many years in the study of human and animal diseases. Until very recent times, however, histology has been applied to fish studies only very infrequently. This brief discussion is intended to acquaint the reader with the techniques and principles involved and to explain how histological studies may help to overcome fish diseases and nutritional problems.
Progressive Fish-Culturist↗
Sulfonamide toxicity in brook trout
Sterility was observed in female brook trout that were treated with sulfamerazine at frequent intervals for 2 years to control endemic furunculosis. Feeding sulfamerazine for a period of 8 months caused massive kidney damage similar to that observed in humans who develop allergies to “sulfa” drugs. Kidney damage of the type observed would probably cause renal insufficiency which would handicap any physiological function including reproduction. Feeding sulfonamides for periods up to 13 weeks did not produce kidney damage.
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society↗