RESEARCH ON YELLOW FILLET SYNDROME IN FARMED CATFISH(Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the factors related to the formation of jaundice in striped catfish (P. hypophthalmus) cultured in the Mekong Delta. A total of 127 ponds were surveyed, including 22 ponds had no disease signals and 105 ponds had diseased fish, of which 39 ponds had been identified with jaundice. Through microbiological analysis, it was shown that white spots internal organs, cholecystitis, bile duct swelling, hemorrhage, swim bladder swelling, pale gills and liver, and ulcerative disease were likely to be co-infected with jaundice. However, correlation factor analysis showed that only white spots internal organs, cholecystitis and bile duct swelling had a direct impact. Histological analysis showed that pigments were deposited between the interstitial cells of the liver, kidney and spleen. Nematode and bacteria were also recorded in the bile duct of striped catfish showing clinical signs of jaundice. The results indicated that jaundice in striped catfish is essentially a syndrome formed by multiple factors, leading to obstruction of the main bile ducts. It is also hypothesized that bacteria affecting the liver of striped catfish represent an underlying cause contributing to the development of jaundice syndrome.