Brooklynella hostilis
Species of single-celled organism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brooklynella hostilis is a parasite of marine fish, found in wild fish, farmed fish and aquariums.[1] It is kidney-bean shaped, and approximately 60–80 μm (0.0024–0.0031 in) long,[1] with bands of cilia.[2] It reproduces by binary fission.[3]
| Brooklynella hostilis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Phyllopharyngea |
| Order: | Dysteriida |
| Family: | Hartmannulidae |
| Genus: | Brooklynella |
| Species: | B. hostilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Brooklynella hostilis Lom & Nigrelli, 1970 | |
B. hostilis causes the disease Brooklynellosis, also known as slime-blotch or clownfish disease.[3] In marine aquariums, B. hostilis infects most teleosts (ray finned fishes).[4] B. hostilis feeds on dead skin cells and can cause severe damage to gills.[5] Affected fish have a gray discoloration, and may breathe abnormally fast or abnormally slow.[2] The infection can cause sloughing of skin, and congestion of the gills.[6] The parasite spreads rapidly, and can easily transfer to a new host.[7] Formalin is an effective treatment.[2]
