Incidence and molecular characterization of fungi and yeast isolated from cultured catfish and Nile tilapia

Objective: To study the incidence and seasonal dynamics of different fungi affected freshwater fishes in Lake Manzala with molecular identification of the isolated fungi. Animals: 300 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and 300 catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Design: Descriptive study. Procedures: Random samples of Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus) and Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus) were collected from Manzala fish farms. Clinical and postmortem examination of fish was applied. Isolation and identification of different fungi were performed by conventional methods. Furthermore, the molecular characterization of isolated fungi was carried out. Results: C. gariepinus had a higher rate of infection with different fungal species than O. niloticus. Aspergillus spp. (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) were the most fungal isolated from the examined fishes, followed by Penicillium spp. and Candida albicans. Aspergillus spp were detected in all seasons with a higher rate in summer and spring. A. flavus, A. niger, Penicillium spp. and C.albicans isolates were amplified from both C. gariepinus and O. niloticus at the specified molecular weight using PCR. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Fungal infection affected the fish showing different external and internal lesions, all species of Aspergillus were found in all seasons with a high rate in, hot seasons, summer and spring. The Prevalence of Penicillium and C. albicans were also reported. All fungal isolates were identified on the phenotypic and molecular bases.