Seasonal incidences of hemorrhagic septicemia and epizootic ulcerative syndrome in mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala L.) in different fish farms around Hisar, Haryana

Mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala L.) is an important fish among the Indian major carps being cultured intensively in the fresh water ponds across the country. The dreadful fish diseases, Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) and hemorrhagic septicemia, has been causing large-scale mortality among the freshwater fishes since 1988, initially affecting four species of fishes. The present investigations were carried to find out the incidence of diseases in this fish in different fish farms around Hisar (Haryana, India). Four fish farms were surveyed for two years. To monitor the outbreak of diseases, monthly samples of fishes were drawn and the numbers of fishes found infected with diseases were recorded. The lesions of diseases were compared with the standard symptoms and the diseases were characterized accordingly. During the period under study, fishes were found to be infected with hemorrhagic septicemia and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS). The diseases appeared in a cyclic fashion each year in March/April and September/October. During rest of the year, the fishes were free from any disease. The gravity of the losses was ascertained by determining the proportion of diseased fishes in the derived samples. At different fish farms, from 25 to 40 per cent fishes were found to be infected with diseases. This survey provided guidelines for the future incidence, control and management of these fish diseases in Haryana (India).