Etiopathology of Myxozoan Infection in Fresh Water Edible Fishes and Its Prospective Control Using Plant Based Aqua Soluble Drugs

Myxozoans are common and often highly pathogenic parasites of fish. Several research groups around the world are studying this group of parasites,  have a very interesting  two-host life cycle,  and try to develop methods to control them. During the previous years, the members of the Fish Pathology and Parasitology Resaerch Team of the Veterinary Medical Research Institute of ELKH (formerly IVMR CAR MTA) conducted fish parasitological research in several Asian countries (Malaysia, Japan, China) and India, mainly on myxozoan species of wild and farmed fish species.

Within the framework of the TÉT project, the researchers of the Department of Fish Pathology and Parasitology of ÁTKI and the researchers of the University of Kalyani of India study the myxozoan infections of the most economically important Indian fish species (mainly the Indian major carps as rohu, mrigal, catla, and Indian catfish species) in cooperation. Moreover, they investigate myxozoan infections of Hungarian wild and farmed cyprinids and percids, and also the invertebrate alternative host species.

An important goal of the research for the fishery industry and aquaculture is to test the effect of some plant extracts already used in India against myxozoan infections.

The actuality of the research is also established by the fact that previously used pharmaceutical antiparasitic agents in the European Union have been banned due to their harmful effects on the environment, therefore it is much needed to develop alternative, ecological treatments.