Potentially new emerging diseases on two species of Indonesian freshwater aquaculture: giant gourami (Osphronemus gourami) and Asian catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus)

Research Station For Fish Disease Control, Research Institute for Freshwater Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension (RIFAFE), Jalan Perikanan Raya No. 13 Pancoran Mas, Depok 16436, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: hestahamdani@gmail.com

Abstract

Disease outbreaks and mortality in giant gourami and Asian catfish (pangasius) culture have been frequently reported during the last decade. Etiological agents of the disease have remained unknown, so it is needed to explore epidemiological studies to know the main causative agents. The study aimed to know the main pathogenic agents who were identified during disease outbreaks on giant gourami and pangasius. Data and information were collected through active and passive surveillance at the production centers of each species. Analysis was carried out according to standard fish disease diagnosis and eventually was focused on two suspected new emerging diseases (NED), namely Infectious Spleen and Kidney Necrosis Virus (ISKNV) belonging to Megalocytivirus on giant gourami and Enteric Septicemia of Catfish (ESC) caused by Edwardsiella ictaluri on pangasius. The results showed that ISKNV was detected on most of the diseased giant gourami samples and that E. ictaluri was identified on most diseased pangasius samples. This study concluded that both pathogenic agents, Megalocytivirus and E. ictaluri were suspected to be potentially NED on freshwater aquaculture, especially infecting giant gourami and pangasius respectively.