CASE REPORT: FIELD DIAGNOSIS OF PISCINOODINIUM PILLULARE (SCHÄPERCLAUS, 1954) IN COLOSSOMA MACROPOMUM

Abstract

The velvet disease, caused by the protozoan Piscinoodinium pillulare, is a parasitic disease that affects freshwater fish, such as Colossoma macropomum. This infection is characterized by symptoms including agitation, discomfort, intense opercular movements, and an orange coloration of the fish, indicating the presence of the parasite. Diagnosis is made through clinical observation and microscopic analysis. This report describes a case observed in 2022 in Ji-Paraná, Rondônia, where tambaquis were identified with the classic symptoms of this parasitosis. Treatment included salt baths and the application of lime, resulting in a significant improvement in the health of the fish, with no deaths observed in the pond, highlighting the importance of early interventions for effective management of this parasitic disease.