Identificación del endoparásito (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) en peces de ornato (Carassius auratus) en el acuario Neptuno del cantón Salcedo

Abstract

The parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a ciliated protozoan, known for presenting white spots or spots in infected fish, where the most commercialized species in aquariums worldwide is Carassius auratus, so the present study aimed to identify the presence of this ectoparasite, in fish samples from the Neptune aquarium in Salcedo, due to the economic losses it represents, due to its high level of mortality in the species that suffer from this parasite. 45 specimens of Carassius auratus fish were analyzed, where erratic undulatory buckling was clinically observed in 14 (31.11%) of the specimens in the study. Subsequently, through macroscopic identification, the anatomical places with the presence of the protozoan were visualized, where the dorsal fin showed a (57.14%) and the caudal fin or tail (42.86%), values that were confirmed by microscopic analysis through skin scraping tests, which were obtained through prior euthanasia of the animal by making a cut in the spinal cord by means of of a surgical scissors before the operculum that protects the gills of the fish, later with the help of a scalpel the samples of epidermis, fins, cornea and gills were extracted to finally be visualized microscopically, finding the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis in its Trophon stage of its biological cycle. Concluding the existence of the parasite in the fish specimens studied, this type of study stands out as a research base to carry out future research on ornamental fish in aquariums in Ecuador. Keywords: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, fish, Carassius Auratus