Detection of Dermocystidium anguillae in imported elvers of American eel Anguilla rostrata in China

In recent years, an emerging dermocystidiosis caused by Dermocystidium anguillae Spangenberg, 1975 has been found to pose a threat to the culture of American eel, Anguilla rostrata (Lesueur), as well as Chinese perch, Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky), in China. Dermocystidium anguillae was originally described from European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus), and it is thus important to identify the possible source of this pathogen. In the present study, we compared D. anguillae from European eels cultured in China with those from American eels. Molecular analysis showed that the SSU rDNA of D. anguillae infecting European eels was identical to that of D. anguillae infecting American eels, suggesting their conspecificity. To investigate the source of D. anguillae causing dermocystidiosis in American eels cultured in China, a specific PCR assay for the detection of D. anguillae was developed with high sensitivity (10(-6) ng/mu l of D. anguillae genomic DNA). Using the present molecular detection method, the water and sediment of culture ponds, fish feed and American eel elvers imported from America were screened for the presence of D. anguillae. No amplicons were detected from the water, sediment and fish feed samples. However, positive amplicons were found in American eel elvers, indicating that D. anguillae has been introduced from American eel elvers to China. It is suggested that American eel elvers imported from America should be examined for the presence of D. anguillae before their exportation abroad to prevent the spread of this pathogen.