Ectoparasite Load Is Reduced in Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) at Wind Farms: Implications for Oxidative Stress.

AbstractWind-generated power is one of the fastest growing alternative energy strategies worldwide and will likely account for 20% of US energy production by 2030. The installation and maintenance of wind farms are associated with increased human activity and can generate noise pollution, disturb and fragment habitat, and even alter community composition and structure. These environmental and ecological changes can increase physiological stress for vertebrates and affect important life-history attributes, such as immune function. However, little is known about how wind farms influence physiology and disease or parasite resistance in nonvolant wildlife. Here, we test the notion that renewable wind farms increase physiological stress and correlated aspects of disease resistance (parasite load) in a common desert vertebrate, the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). We captured lizards from three wind farms and three undisturbed reference sites in the San Gorgonio Pass wind resource area in the Mojave Desert, California. We quantified individual external parasite loads and measured plasma antioxidant capacity and concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites as a combined metric of oxidative stress. Contrary to our expectations, individuals at wind farm sites had significantly fewer external parasites than at undeveloped sites. Additionally, we found a slight positive correlation between parasite load and oxidative stress for individuals at wind farm sites but not at reference sites. Our results demonstrate a complex, potentially context-dependent relationship between stress physiology and disease resistance for lizards in anthropogenically disturbed environments. Understanding how wind farms affect the physiology and ecoimmunology of terrestrial fauna is necessary to mitigate the ecological costs of alternative energy development.

Antiparasitic potential of Nephrolepis biserrata methanol extract against the parasitic leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Hirudinea) and LC-QTOF analysis.

Marine leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis (Piscicolidae), an economically important parasite is infesting predominantly cultured groupers, hybrid groupers and other fish in Southeast Asian countries. In this study, we tested the anti-parasitic potential of a medicinal plant Nephrolepis biserrata found in Sabah, East Malaysia against Z. arugamensis. Various concentrations of methanol extracts of the plant were tested experimentally against Z. arugamensis and disinfestation of the leech from its primary host hybrid groupers. The composition of methanol extract of N. biserrata was determined through LC-QTOF analysis. The significant anti-parasitic activity of 100% mortality of leeches was observed with the exposure of N. biserrata extracts. The average time to kill the leeches at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml was 25.11 ± 3.26, 11.91 ± 0.99, and 4.88 ± 0.50 min., respectively. Further, at various low concentrations of N. biserrata 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml, hybrid groupers were disinfested in an average time of 108.33 ± 12.65, 65.83 ± 9.70 and 29.16 ± 5.85 min., respectively. The tandem mass spectrometry data from LC-QTOF indicated some hits on useful bioactive compounds such as terpenoids (ivalin, isovelleral, brassinolide, and eschscholtzxanthin), flavonoids (alnustin, kaempferol 7,4'-dimethyl ether, and pachypodol), phenolics (piscidic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ankorine), and aromatic (3-hydroxycoumarin). Thus N. biserrata can act as a potential biocontrol agent.

Single-cell transcriptome maps of myeloid blood cell lineages in Drosophila.

The Drosophila lymph gland, the larval hematopoietic organ comprised of prohemocytes and mature hemocytes, has been a valuable model for understanding mechanisms underlying hematopoiesis and immunity. Three types of mature hemocytes have been characterized in the lymph gland: plasmatocytes, lamellocytes, and crystal cells, which are analogous to vertebrate myeloid cells, yet molecular underpinnings of the lymph gland hemocytes have been less investigated. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to comprehensively analyze heterogeneity of developing hemocytes in the lymph gland, and discover previously undescribed hemocyte types including adipohemocytes, stem-like prohemocytes, and intermediate prohemocytes. Additionally, we identify the developmental trajectory of hemocytes during normal development as well as the emergence of the lamellocyte lineage following active cellular immunity caused by wasp infestation. Finally, we establish similarities and differences between embryonically derived- and larval lymph gland hemocytes. Altogether, our study provides detailed insights into the hemocyte development and cellular immune responses at single-cell resolution.

Histopathological changes and piscidin 5-like location in infected Larimichthys crocea with parasite Cryptocaryon irritans.

Cryptocaryon irritans infection could cause huge economic losses to the marine fish industry. Larimichthys crocea, a special economic species in China, suffered from the threat of serious infection, and L. crocea could enhance the level of piscidin 5-like to defense against the infection. This study set out to observe the main histopathological changes of some key tissues caused by infection, and determineed how an ectoparasite affected the expression of piscidin-5 like in its hosts. Pathological changes and immune response were assessed using histological and in situ hybridization (ISH) technologies. The infection induced inflammation occurring, especially in the gill where epithelium cells swell, hyperplasia, necrosis shedding adjacent to the parasites attachment sites. Infected hepatic cells grown big vacuoles in the cytoplasm. The boundary between red pulp and white pulp turned indistinct, splenic corpuscle lost the normal structure, the number and size of melano-macrophage centers increased apparently in the infected spleen. The whole structure of head kidney became loose. Immunostaining with RNA probes against piscidin 5-like showed subpopulations of mast cells (MCs) were positive. Piscidin 5-like-positive MCs existed mainly in the head kidney where they distributed around melano-macrophage center, followed in the gill located at different positions they also distributed in the margin of spleen, and randomly and sparsely existed in the liver. After being infected by C. irritans, the gill arch arose positive MCs groups, and they also migrated to spleen, while the positive staining deepen in other detected tissues. Therefore, organism enhanced the expression level through improving expression ability of positive MCs, or increasing the number of positive MCs.

Health assessment of juvenile green turtles in southern São Paulo State, Brazil: a hematologic approach.

We assessed the health status and hematologic and blood chemistry values of 48 juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the southeastern coast of Brazil (25°S 48°W). We investigated the impact of size and weight, nutritional condition, and presence of epibionts and fibropapilloma tumors. Nutritional status was good for 39 animals; these animals had higher serum albumin, cholesterol, and phosphorus concentrations than 9 animals with a fair nutritional score. Reference values for hematology and biochemistry were calculated for 39 individuals without fibropapillomas (FPs). Turtles with epibionts (n = 33) had lower hemoglobin (Hb) than turtles without epibionts (n = 15; t = -2.09, p = 0.04), and the area occupied by epibionts was positively correlated with the white blood cell count (r = 0.37, p = 0.03). FP turtles had significantly lower hematocrit (Hct), Hb, and red blood cell (RBC) counts than non-FP turtles; serum albumin and cholesterol were higher in non-FP than FP turtles. A negative correlation between curved carapace length (CCL) and Hct (r = -0.51, p = 0.0002) and RBC (r = -0.47, p = 0.0007), and between serum cholesterol, sodium, and uric acid and CCL (r = -0.53, p = 0.0001; r = -0.38, p = 0.007; r = -0.35, p = 0.014, respectively) were identified. The health of turtles appears to deteriorate as they get larger, which manifests in more FPs, decreased body condition, and systemic physiologic changes consistent with chronic disease including lower Hct, RBC counts, serum cholesterol, sodium, and uric acid.

Do ectoparasites affect survival of three species of lizards of the genus Sceloporus?

The short-term effects that ectoparasites cause to their hosts, such as local wounds and secondary infections that occur within a few hours or days after infection, are well documented in a wide variety of taxa, whereas long-term negative effects on the fitness of hosts, which result from chronic infections and are evident after several months, are less understood. Lizards are hosts of distinct species of mites and ticks that cause short-term negative effects such as ulcers, sores and local inflammation. However, the negative effects that these ectoparasites may have on the long-term survival of lizards have not been evaluated. In this study, we collected two years of capture-mark-recapture data and implemented a multi-model inference framework to examine if high ectoparasite loads have negative effects on the long-term survival probability of three lizard species of the genus Sceloporus (S. grammicus, S. megalepidurus, and S. torquatus). In addition, we considered that the potential negative effect of ectoparasites on survival may vary depending on sex, body condition, reproductive season, or climatic season. Contrary to our expectations, our results did not support the hypothesis that high ectoparasite loads reduce the survival probability of these lizards. In S. grammicus and S. megalepidurus we found no evidence of an effect of ectoparasite load on host survival. In S. torquatus ectoparasites influenced survival probability, but the effect was opposite to what we predicted: survival increased substantially as ectoparasite load increased. This unexpected result might be explained by mites discriminating between hosts and attaching more frequently to lizards in better health status, or by high-quality lizards having greater chances of contracting ectoparasites, because these individuals move around large areas and frequently engage in social interactions.

Dermatitis caused by autochthonous Cercopithifilaria bainae from a dog in Florida, USA: clinical, histological and parasitological diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cercopithifilaria bainae is a tick-vectored filarioid nematode associated with erythematous dermatitis in dogs. It has not been reported previously in the United States. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical, histological and parasitological diagnosis and treatment of C. bainae in a dog. ANIMALS: An 11-month-old golden retriever/standard poodle mixed breed dog from Florida (USA). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The dog had no travel history within or outside the United States, was presented with a one month history of annular erythematous plaques on the head and ulcers on the medial canthi. Lesions were unresponsive to antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation of skin biopsies revealed an eosinophilic to lymphohistiocytic perivascular dermatitis with multiple microgranulomas and rare 5-10 µm diameter microfilariae within microgranulomas. Microfilarial morphology was consistent with C. bainae. PCR and sequencing of 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I genes confirmed the nematodes as C. bainae. The dog was treated with a commercial spot-on containing imidacloprid and moxidectin, and clinical resolution occurred. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of C. bainae in a dog in the United States and the first description of dermatological lesions caused primarily by C. bainae.

The cost of infection: Argulus foliaceus and its impact on the swimming performance of the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).

For fish, there can be multiple consequences of parasitic infections, including the physical impacts on swimming and the pathological costs of infection. This study used the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and the ectoparasitic fish louse, Argulus foliaceus, to assess both physical (including form drag and mass) and pathological effects of infection. Both sustained (prolonged swimming within an open channel flume) and burst (C-start) swimming performance were measured on individual fish before (trials 1-2) and after infection (trials 3-5). Experimental infection occurred shortly before the third trial, when the physical impacts of infection could be separated from any subsequent pathology as transmission of adult parasites causes instantaneous drag effects prior to observable pathology. Despite the relatively large size of the parasite and corresponding increase in hydrodynamic drag for the host, there were no observable physical effects of infection on either sustained or burst host swimming. By contrast, parasite-induced pathology is the most probable explanation for reduced swimming performance across both tests. All sticklebacks displayed a preference for flow refugia, swimming in low-velocity regions of the flume, and this preference increased with both flow rate and infection time. This study suggests that even with large, physically demanding parasites their induced pathology is of greater concern than direct physical impact.

Histopathological alterations in gills of Amazonian shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum parasitized by isopod Probopyrus bithynis (Bopyridae).

The present study describes, for the first time, histopathological alterations in the gills of Macrobrachium amazonicum caused by infestation of Probopyrus bithynis (Isopoda: Bopyridae). In every case (100%), the infestation by P. bithynis was by a single pair of parasites (male and female) and occurred in the right or left side of the branchial chamber; the gill structures were visibly compressed due to the presence of parasites. The gills of M. amazonicum parasitized by P. bithynis exhibited a chronic inflammatory response, with the presence of edema, greater quantities of hemocytes, necrosis, epithelial cell hyperplasia, rupture of the pillar cells at the ends of the gill lamellae, desquamation of the cuticle, lamellar fusion and rupture of the lamellar epithelium. Tissue lesions were found in the histological sections of the gills of the parasitized M. amazonicum. Structural alterations in the branchial chamber of the hosts caused by the presence of P. bithynis can lead to physiological changes that can impair host respiratory performance. Finally, histopathological alterations in the branchial chamber of hosts suggest that P. bithynis feed directly on the gill tissues of this shrimp.

Skin lesions in Aubrac cows strongly associated with fly bites (Haematobia irritans).

BACKGROUND: The horn fly Haematobia irritans is known to cause problems in cattle including weight loss and decreased milk production; cutaneous lesions have not been widely reported and descriptions of the clinical manifestations are quite variable. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: This study describes the clinical and histopathological lesions of several Aubrac cows that presented with focal to confluent areas of alopecia, skin scaling and thickening, suspected to be induced by H. irritans bites. ANIMALS: Twenty seven, three- to six-year-old Aubrac cows, kept in mountain pastures in France, that presented with an apparently asymptomatic alopecic dermatosis. METHODS: Samples for skin cytological evaluation, skin scrapings and trichograms were examined; also, skin biopsy specimens from affected animals were used for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Clinical lesions consisted of focal to coalescing, symmetrical areas of hair loss and scaling, located on the back, flanks, and lateral and caudal aspects of the thighs. Histopathological examination revealed perivascular, oedematous, eosinophilic dermatitis with eosinophilic folliculitis and furunculosis. Species identification of several flies captured on the cows revealed H. irritans. The final clinicopathological diagnosis was eosinophilic dermatitis and folliculitis and furunculosis, suspected to be due to H. irritans fly-bite. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Fly-bite (H. irritans) dermatitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of alopecic dermatoses in cows.

Scanning electron microscopy study of Strabax monstrosus von Nordmann, 1864 (Copepoda: Chondracanthidae) from Tunisian waters and histopathological study of its effects on host.

Strabax monstrosus von Nordmann, 1864 (Copepoda: Chondracanthidae) is an ectoparasite and it was recently recorded from small red scorpionfish, Scorpaena notata Rafinesque, and red scorpionfish, Scorpaena scrofa L., collected from Tunisian coastal waters. Copepod females were found deeply embedded in the branchial cavity reaching the cardiac region with their mouth-parts. Observations of females and males using scanning electron microscopy showed a number of morphological features that have been previously overlooked or incompletely presented. In this study, we report for the first time the fine structures of appendages, mouthparts, external genital organs (nuptial organs), and other structures of male and female Strabax monstrosus. Histopathological study showed lesions in the cardiac region of the host fish which is the target site of the parasite. The presently reported finding is the first record of Strabax monstrosus from Scorpaena notata and Scorpaena scrofa collected from Tunisian waters.

Histopathological changes on the gills of asp (Aspius aspius) and European catfish (Silurus glanis) caused by Lamproglena pulchella and a Lamproglena sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeidae), respectively.

In a parasitology survey of Hungarian fishes, heavy infections of parasitic copepods Lamproglena pulchella and a Lamproglena sp. were found in the gills of the asp and the European catfish, respectively. Individuals of both fish species were emaciated and infected with hundreds of Lamproglena. Copepods located close to the tip of gill filaments and formed a depression at the attachment sites. In histological sections, cell degenerations and local haemorrhages were present adjacent to the maxillipeds and where the maxillary claws pierced the gill tissue. Around maxillae and in the midgut of the Lamproglena, damaged piscine blood cells and remains of the gill tissue were observed. Host reaction was expressed by proliferation of epithelioid cells, increase in both number and size of goblet and mast cells and formation of giant cells.

Reduced growth in wild juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka infected with sea lice.

Daily growth rings were examined in the otoliths of wild juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka to determine whether infection by ectoparasitic sea lice Caligus clemensi and Lepeophtheirus salmonis was associated with reduced host body growth, an important determinant of survival. Over 98% of the sea lice proved to be C. clemensi and the fish that were highly infected grew more slowly than uninfected individuals. Larger fish also grew faster than smaller fish. Finally, there was evidence of an interaction between body size and infection status, indicating the potential for parasite-mediated growth divergence.

Exotic "Gill Lice" Species (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae: Salmincola SPP.) Infect Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in the Southeastern United States.

Salmincola californiensis infected 25 of 31 (prevalence 0.8; intensity 2-35 [mean 6.6 ± standard deviation 7.7; n = 25]) rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, from a private trout farm connected to the Watauga River, North Carolina. Salmincola edwardsii infected all of 9 (1.0; 2-43 [9.3 ± 13.0; 9]) brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, from Big Norton Prong, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River, North Carolina. Both lernaeopodids are well-known salmonid pathogens, but neither is native to, nor has been previously taxonomically confirmed from, the southeastern United States. Herein, we (1) use light and scanning electron microscopy to identify and provide supplemental morphological observations of these lernaeopodids, (2) furnish complementary molecular sequence data from the 28S rDNA (28S), and (3) document the pathological effects of gill infections. We identified and differentiated these lernaeopodids by the second antenna (exopod tip with large [S. californiensis] vs. slender [S. edwardsii] spines; endopod terminal segment with subequal ventral processes shorter than [S. californiensis] vs. longer than or equal to [S. edwardsii] dorsal hook), maxilliped palp (length typically ≤1/3 [S. californiensis] vs. 1/3-1/2 [S. edwardsii] subchela length exclusive of claw), and bulla (sub-circular and concave on manubrium's side [S. californiensis] vs. non-stellate [S. edwardsii]). Analysis of the 28S rDNA sequences confirmed our taxonomic assignments as demonstrated by 100% sequence similarity among the sympatric, morphologically-conspecific isolates. Histopathology revealed focal gill epithelial hyperplasia, obstruction of interlamellar water channels, lamellar fusion, and crypting of gill filaments. High intensity infections by either lernaeopodid are surveillance-worthy because they are potentially pathogenic to trout in the southeastern United States.

Fly rounds: Validation and pilot of a novel epidemiologic tool to guide infection control response to an infestation of Sarcophagidae flies in a community hospital's perioperative department.

During an outbreak of Sarcophagidae, or flesh flies, in a community hospital's perioperative department, the infection prevention and control (IPC) department developed, validated, and piloted a novel epidemiologic tool to track hourly fly prevalence by room. Interrater reliability of the tool was measured as 0.88 and hourly point prevalence counts were superimposed on floor plans to create heat maps. Such surveillance tools allowed more timely decision making in conjunction with the operations of the hospital incident command system.

Disseminated tungiasis in a 78-year-old woman from Tanzania: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tungiasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases; it affects up to 40% of individuals living in societies with poor housing and sanitation standards. In endemic areas, Tunga infestation, which predominantly affects the periungual areas of the lower limbs in humans, is associated with considerable morbidity and poor quality of life. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old woman of African descent presented with pain, inflammation, suppuration, ulceration, and deformation of digits of all four limbs. She had a total of 1146 embedded sand fleas: 812 in lower limbs and 334 in her hands. She was febrile; her full blood count revealed pancytopenia and blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Furthermore, she had severe hyponatremia. We applied 20% salicylated petroleum jelly followed by the manual removal of embedded sand fleas with a sterile needle. Intravenously administered piperacillin-tazobactam, topical ivermectin, ferrous sulfate, folic acid, tolvaptan, albendazole, multivitamins, and tetanus prophylaxis were instituted. She was discharged home after 16 days of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Tungiasis is a neglected disease of concern in underprivileged societies that is preventable and curable. Early recognition and prompt treatment is crucial to prevent complications in this disease which may potentially mimic other conditions resulting in erroneous management.

Spatial Distribution of Gyrodactylus salmonis (Monogenea) on the Body of Captive Fingerling Oncorhynchus mykiss, Including Attachment Within the Olfactory Chamber.

Gyrodactylus salmonis is a common ectoparasite on the fins and body of North American salmonids in fresh water. In this study, the spatial distribution of G. salmonis on 60 captive hatchery-reared rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , is reported. The highest parasite densities occurred on 5 × 5-mm(2) sections of the dorsal fin followed by the trunk, other fins, and the olfactory chamber, with the lowest densities on the head. The finding of infections within the olfactory chamber of 93% of the fish was unexpected. One possibility is that such infections represented spillover from high-density infrapopulations that occur on the skin and fins. However, this possibility is unlikely, because worm densities at various sites along the body surface of infected fish did not correlate with densities within the olfactory chamber. The parasite conceivably enters the chamber either via water incurrent or by crawling in from the head and subsequently remaining at this site to feed and reproduce. Results from scanning electron microscopy are consistent with physical modification to the olfactory epithelium associated with the attachment/reattachment of the opisthaptor and epithelial grazing.

Visceral pentastomiasis caused by Armillifer armillatus in a captive striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Chiang Mai Night Safari, Thailand.

Visceral pentastomiasis (porocephalosis) caused by Armillifer armillatus larvae was incidentally diagnosed in a female striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) of unknown age which died unexpectedly in 2013. The hyena had been imported from Tanzania 8years earlier and have been since then in a zoo in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Pathological examination revealed visceral nymph migrans of pentastomes throughout the intestine, liver, diaphragm, omentum and mesentery, spleen, kidneys, and urinary bladder. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing that targeted the pentastomid-specific 18S rRNA gene determined 100% identity with reference sequence for A. armillatus, suggesting that its ova can infect the hyena to serve as an intermediate host for the parasite. Further studies to identify the source of infection, its risk factors, and host range for A. armillatus are important to determine its zoonotic potential and to better prevent and manage the disease to protect animal and human health.

Reduced aggression and foraging efficiency of invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) infested with non-native branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata).

BACKGROUND: Biological invasions are a principal threat to global biodiversity and identifying the determinants of non-native species' success is a conservation priority. Through their ability to regulate host populations, parasites are increasingly considered as important in determining the outcome of species' invasions. Here, we present novel evidence that the common crayfish ecto-symbiont, Xironogiton victoriensis (Annelida: Clitellata) can affect the behaviour of a widespread and ecologically important invader, the signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). METHODS: To assess the signal crayfish-X. victoriensis relationship naïve crayfish were infested with an intensity of worms typically observed under natural conditions. Over a 10-week period the growth rate and survivorship of these animals was monitored and compared to those of uninfested counterparts. Complementary dyadic competition and foraging experiments were run to assess the behaviour of infested compared to uninfested animals. These data were analysed using General Linear Models and Generalized Linear Mixed Models. RESULTS: Whilst X. victoriensis did not affect the growth rate or survivorship of signal crayfish under laboratory conditions, infested animals were significantly less aggressive and poorer foragers than uninfested individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Through reducing aggression and foraging efficiency, infestation with X. victoriensis may disrupt the social structure, and potentially growth rate and/or dispersal of afflicted crayfish populations, with potential effects on their invasion dynamics. This is important given the widespread invasive range of crayfish and their functional roles as ecosystem engineers and keystone species.

Prevalence and Histopathologic Study of Lernaea cyprinacea in Two Species of Ornamental Fish (Poecilia latipinna and Xiphophorus helleri) in Kerman, South-East Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Lernaeids are crustacean parasites that are globally distributed among freshwater and marine fish. Approximately 110 species of Lernaeids have been divided into 14 genera. The most common species of Lernaeids is Lernaea cyprinacea, which has been transmitted to ornamental fish worldwide. The economic importance of L. cyprinacea is increasing because of the epidemic caused by the parasite in most of the ornamental fish breeding centers in different parts of the world. The parasite affects its host's health, decreases growth rate, and causes abnormal metabolic activity. Accumulation of these parasites in some parts of the body causes painful points and has harmful outcomes for the functioning and survival of the host. METHODS: The present study was conducted to examine the prevalence of L. cyprinacea among ornamental fish within 1 year from September-October 2011 to September-October 2012. In total, 3520 fish [3380 mollies (Poecilia latipinna) and 140 swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri)] were collected from 10 fish maintenance and breeding centers in Kerman, Iran. RESULTS: Of 3520 fish, only 186 fish (5.3%) were infected with L. cyprinacea, and the remaining fish (94.7%) were not infected. The swordtails (X. helleri) and mollies (P. latipinna) showed the highest (10.7%) and the lowest (5.1%) level of infection, respectively. In other words, there was a significant correlation between species of fish and L. cyprinacea infection (p<0.05). The highest prevalence (39.4%) and the lowest prevalence (0%) of L. cyprinacea were observed during summer and winter, respectively, which can be attributed to the temperature difference between the two seasons. Also, the histopathologic examination of sections revealed some lesions in the epidermis, dermis, and muscles. CONCLUSION: Considering the existing L. cyprinacea infection in ornamental fish reproduction and breeding centers in Kerman, public knowledge should increase through management methods; physical and chemical treatments should also be applied to inform the public regarding the risk of infection and other internal diseases that may be associated with ornamental fish.