Detection and Identification ofsp. (Trematoda) and Bacteria in Diseasedfrom the European Marine Aquarium Trade.

Abstract

During the examination of a bicolor angelfish () imported from the Philippines and intended for sale on the Polish market, clinical signs of weakness and respiratory distress were observed. Mild hyperemia was noted along the lateral sides of the body and around the mouth. Necropsy revealed the presence of five orange-colored trematodes in the intestinal lumen, with an average body length of 3.12 mm. Based on morphological features and molecular analyses, the parasite was identified assp. The following gene loci were amplified: the gene-encoding component of the large ribosomal subunit (), the gene-encoding NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (), the gene clusterand the gene cluster. Bacterial species identification using MALDI-TOF MS revealed the presence of three species:andisolated from the head kidney, andisolated from the liver. This study documents the first detection of representatives ofgenus inimported to Europe and highlights the potential risk of introducing new parasites and opportunistic bacterial pathogens through the ornamental fish trade. These findings emphasize the need for parasitological and microbiological screening of imported ornamental fish.