Fungal
🟡 Moderate
Ichthyophonus Infection
🦠 Ichthyophonus hoferi · Ichthyophonidae
📋 Definition
A systemic infection caused by the mesomycetozoean Ichthyophonus, forming granulomatous cysts throughout internal organs, commonly causing "sandpaper liver."
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Ichthyophonus hoferi
Agent Family
Ichthyophonidae
Geographic Range
Worldwide — marine and freshwater fish
Transmission Routes
Ingestion of infected fish or tissue
Primary Host
Atlantic herring, Atlantic mackerel, rainbow trout, plaice
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
🩺 Clinical Signs
Rough sandpaper texture of internal organs (especially liver and heart), yellow/white granulomatous cysts throughout viscera, heart failure, external skin ulcers, lethargy.
🔬 Symptoms
🔬
Granulomatous cysts in internal organs
Systemic Chronic
🔬
Sandpaper liver texture
Hepatic Chronic
🔬
Heart failure
Circulatory Chronic
🧪 Diagnosis
Post-mortem: characteristic granulomas visible grossly, large spherical thick-walled resting stages on histopathology.
💊 Treatment
⚠️ No universally approved treatment is currently available. The information below covers supportive care and experimental approaches.
No effective treatment.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Feed fish with cooked/processed feed rather than raw fish.