First report of kidney enlargement disease in UK goldfish
Holliman, A.; Feist, S.
Veterinary Record 132(13): 331
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8480401 Document Number: 418876
During the autumn of 1992 almost one third of 200 young goldfish, Carassius auratus, in a small garden pond in Devon developed marked, typically unilateral, abdominal distension. Affected fish measured approximately 30 mm in length and had been hatched from broodstock held in a large adjacent pool. Mortalities continued through into the new year. PM examination revealed grossly swollen kidneys. A myxosporean aetiology was suspected. Histopathological examination of fixed samples of kidney revealed cavernous lesions formed from hugely dilated excretory tubules and collecting ducts. These contained numerous myxosporean plasmodia tentatively identified as stages of Hoferellus carassii. Intracellular stages were also observed within the tubule epithelial cells. Mature spores of this species were not detected either in tissue section or in teased samples of fixed tissue. On the basis of the typical pathology and presence of myxosporean plasmodia, a diagnosis of kidney enlargement disease was made. Control of the infection is discussed.