Parasitic
🟡 Moderate
✓ Treatable
Camallanus Worm Infection
🦠 Camallanus cotti, C. lacustris · Camallanidae (Nematoda)
📋 Overview
Camallanus is one of the most common internal parasites of ornamental fish. The red-orange worms are visible at the vent; emerging females release live larvae into the water. Copepods serve as intermediate hosts. The parasite spreads easily in established aquaria through normal feeding and foraging.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Camallanus cotti, C. lacustris
Agent Family
Camallanidae (Nematoda)
Geographic Range
Worldwide; very common in ornamental tropical aquaria and pond fish
Transmission Routes
Ingestion of copepod intermediate host; via contaminated live food
Primary Host
Livebearers (guppies, mollies), cichlids, goldfish, tropical community fish
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
🩺 Clinical Signs
Red/orange worms protruding from anus, wasting, bloated abdomen, lethargy, anorexia, fin clamping.
🔬 Symptoms
🔬
Worms protruding from anus
Digestive Chronic
🔬
Bloated abdomen
Abdominal Subacute
🔬
Progressive wasting
Systemic Chronic
🔬
Anorexia
Digestive Subacute
🧪 Diagnosis
Visual observation of worms at vent; gut examination for worms; identification by morphology.
💊 Treatment
Levamisole, fenbendazole, or flubendazole in medicated feed; repeat after 3 weeks.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Quarantine new fish, avoid unscreened live copepods as food, maintain cleanliness.