Publication Abstract

Crayfish plague

D.J. Alderman

Crayfish plague is a highly infectious fungal disease of fresh water crayfish. The disease is of North American origin. North American crayfish species are generally resistant to the disease, while all crayfish species from other continents are highly susceptible. The causative agent is an Oomycete fungus, Aphanomyces astaci. Other members of this genus are now implicated in a number of fish diseases, particularly the epizootic ulcerative syndrome of South-East Asia.

The disease first appeared in Europe around 1860. By 1935 only the British Isles, the Iberian Peninsula, Greece, Turkey and Norway remained free of infection. In the period 1960-1980 those areas became infected. In most cases, evidence exists to link these more recent extensions to the transfer of infected carrier crayfish introduced for farming.

Reference:

D.J. Alderman, 2000. Crayfish plague. OIE diagnostic manual for aquatic animal diseases, 2000, 235-240