A brief description is given of a preserved specimen of eel (Thysoidea macrurus) infested with Aspergillus flavus. It is suggested that proper washing of the eels is required to remove the slime covering and the specimens should be completely submerged in formalin in order to successfully preserve the eels

Gupta, R.

Samuel, C.T.

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Aspergillus flavus lnfecti on Preserved Eel 
(Thysoidea macrurus) 
The fungus Aspergillus fiavus was obser-
ved growing on a 2.1 m long specimen of 
eel (Thysoidea macrurus). Half of the eel 
was submerged in 5~fo formalin in a loosely 
covered specimen jar. The fungus grew 
Fig. L The patch of the fungal growth on the 
preserved eel. a. Inner part showing heavy sporu-
lation. b. White fluffy younger mycelial outline. 
c. The deeper wounds after the removal of the 
fungal mat from the patches on the abdomen. 
on the eel skin as yellowish-green, heavily 
sporulating patches, with white fluffy younger 
mycelial outline spreading vigorously (Fig. I). 
When the fungus was grown on potato 
dextrose agar (PDA) medium slants, it 
showed dense, dark green, sporulating 
heads on a pale yellow mycelial mat (Fig.2). 
No pigmentation was observed on the re-
verse of the slants. The skin on the head 
and body above the submerged parts had 
several such patches which grew deeper 
from the skin to the flesh. The infection 
initiated on the slime and then invaded the 
skin. Studies showed that the fresh, healthy 
specimens which were washed wen to re-
move completely its slime and sub~ 
merged completely in the formalin solution 
Department of Industrial Fisheries, 
Universjty of Cochin, Cochin-682 016 
for three days and then transferred and 
kept in half submerged condition and 
innoculated with fungus afresh and kept 
loosely covered did not show any fungal 
growth. 
Fig. 2. Details of a conidial head of Aspergillus 
fiavus a. Conidiophore b. Phialides. c. Conidia 
Ee]s not properly washed off its slime and 
not submerged completely in the formalin 
solution appears to be susceptible to vigo-
rously growing strain of Aspergillus flavus. 
The first author wishes to express her thanks to 
the University of Cochin for the financial assistance. 
She is thankful to the Commonwealth MycologicaX 
Institute, Kew, U.K. for confirming the identification 
of the fungus. Thanks are also due to Mr. Mohana 
Rao, Research Scholar, Centre for Advanced Stu-
dies, CMFRI, Cochin for the photomicrograph. 
References 
Chichester, C.O. & Graham, H.D. (1973) 
Microbial Safety of Fishery Products. 
p. 77 and 81, Academic Press, New 
York and London 
Gilman, J.C. (1956) A Manual of Fungi. 
p.225. Oxford and IBH Publishing 
Company, New Delhi. 
RANU GUPTA*, 
-C. T. SAMUEL 
*Present address: National Institute of Oceanography Regional Centre, Cochin-682 018 


Aspergillus flavus infection of preserved eel (Thysoidea macrurus)

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Aspergillus flavus infection of preserved eel (Thysoidea macrurus)

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