Blancaflor, Mark Immanuel C.

23 August 2016
Professor Nemencio Caludio, Ph.D.
Referee, PLOS Biology
RE: Prevalence of some parasitic agents affecting the gills of some cultured fishes in Sharkia,
Damietta and Fayium governorates

Dear Professor Nemencio Caludio,

The study is concerned about the prevailing parasitic agents of the cultured fishes in Sharkia,
Damietta and Fayium governorates in Egypt. It was known that these parasitic agents are
affecting the cultured fishes specifically, the gill lamellae which disrupts their capability of
breathing thus, resulting to the death of the fishes.
The study aims to determine how prevalent are parasitic gill infections in different cultured fish
species with different growth stages in different fish farms in Sharkia, Damietta and Fayium
governorates and what are the possible new trials of treatment can be established for the infected
fish farms.
The study determined that protozoa, monogenetic trematodes, and encysted metacercaria (EMC)
of digenetic trematodes are the prevalent parasitic agents affecting skin and gills causing
irritation and destruction of gills leading to impairment of breathing. The protozoa present in
these fish farms are Trichodina sp. and Henneguya sp. The monogenetic trematode present is
Monogenea sp. Lastly, the digenetic trematodes present are Centrocestus sp., Clinostomum sp.
and Prohemistomum sp.

Trichodina sp. and Monogenea sp. are prevalent among frys and fingerlings of O. niloticus and
adults of tilapia spp. Whi006Ce, Henneguya sp. is prevalent only in catfish.

The EMC of Centrocestus sp. reached a maximum prevalence of 52.5% in adult tilapia spp. The
EMC of Clinostomum sp. are only found in tilapia spp. While, the EMC of Prohemistomium sp.
were found in tilapia spp., catfishes, and O. niloticus.

It was discovered that Purified commiphora extract (Mirrazid extract), which was used to treat
the infected fish farms, are only effective on adult fishes like O. niloticus in the rate of 15mg/L
water. It is only effective on adults because of the larger size of gill lamellae while fishes with
smaller size of gill lamellae resulted in death when introduced to Mirrazid extract with 15mg/L
water.
The results are significant in the field of biology because it would add to the fields knowledge
of parasitology of fish farms. The results show the different parasites that would affect the
conditions of fish farms. It also shows what part of the fishes is being affected by the parasites.

Upon knowing the results of the study, the public would realize that fishes are also getting sick
because of certain parasites like protozoans and trematodes that affect the fish farms. The public
would be much careful on what they buy in the market because of the possible threats that
parasites could bring to fishes.

There are other recent studies that also contribute to answering the presented questions. One
study is by Moravec about Nematode parasites of fishes: recent advances and problems of their
research. Another is by Chandra about Fish parasitological studies in Bangladesh. Lastly, is the
study of Khalil, El-Shahawy, and Abdelkader about fish parasites of public health importance in
Saudi Arabia.

The study will have a big contribution in the fields of biology and parasitology because it would
open new learning about the mentioned protozoans and trematodes. The study also showcases
the potential of Mirrazid extract as this is the first study about the extract as a treatment for
infected fish waters.

The researchers are hoping that the study would be a great help in improving other research
studies.

Respectfully,

Mark Immanuel C. Blancaflor