Assay to Detect the Actinospore and Myxospore Stages of Proliferative Gill Disease in Oligochaetes and Pond Water

摘要: Abstract With the use of a polymerase chain reaction assay previously developed for Henneguya ictaluri, myxozoan parasite associated with proliferative gill disease (PGD), new technique was to detect actinospore stages in pond water samples and aquatic oligochaete host Dero digitata. Samples oligochaetes were collected from 40 commercial ponds containing channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Using reported H. ictaluri-infected gills this technique, we found 35 out had ictaluri-positive oligochaetes, 32 fish, 25 testing positive ictaluri actinospores. This is not only less time-consuming labor-intensive than current methods, it also sensitive enough or before are infected. A detection method such as one could be used determine tim...