Journal article
First report of Kudoa thunni and Kudoa musculoliquefaciens affecting the quality of commercially harvested yellowfin tuna and broadbill swordfish in Eastern Australia
Parasitology Research, Vol.120(7), pp.2493-2503
2021
PMID: 34115215
Abstract
Recent anecdotal reports from seafood processors in eastern Australia have described an increased occurrence of post-mortem myoliquefaction ('jellymeat') in broadbill swordfish Xiphias gladius, and macroscopic cysts throughout the musculature of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares. A genus of parasitic cnidarians, Kudoa (Myxosporea, Multivalvulida), species of which are known to occur in economically important wild-caught fish species globally, can cause similar quality-deterioration issues. However, Kudoa sp. epizootiology within commercially harvested, high-value fish caught within Australia is poorly understood, despite the parasite's economic importance. To determine the causative agent responsible for the observed quality deterioration in swordfish and yellowfin tuna, muscle-tissue samples from seafood processors in Mooloolaba, Australia, collected from October 2019–February 2020, were examined for parasitic infection. Kudoid myxospores were identified from both hosts and were subquadrate in shape, with four equal-sized polar capsules. The SSU rDNA sequences from both fish shared > 99% identity to Kudoa species. Kudoa musculoliquefaciens was isolated from 87.1% of swordfish sampled, suggesting that it is a widespread parasite in swordfish from the southwest Pacific Ocean. This study provides the first molecular and morphological characterisation of Kudoa thunni in yellowfin tuna and K. musculoliquefaciens in swordfish harvested from the waters of eastern Australia, expanding the geographical distribution of K. thunni and K. musculoliquefaciens to include the Coral and Tasman Seas. We demonstrate that not all infected swordfish progress to jellymeat, show the usefulness of molecular tools for reliably identifying infection by Kudoa spp., and add to the overall knowledge of kudoid epizootiology in wild-caught fish.
Details
- Title
- First report of Kudoa thunni and Kudoa musculoliquefaciens affecting the quality of commercially harvested yellowfin tuna and broadbill swordfish in Eastern Australia
- Authors
- Jessica Bolin (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringScott Cummins (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringShahida Akter Mitu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science and Engineering - LegacyDavid Schoeman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringKaren Evans (Author) - CSIRO Oceans and AtmosphereKylie Scales (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Publication details
- Parasitology Research, Vol.120(7), pp.2493-2503
- Publisher
- Springer
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00436-021-07206-8
- ISSN
- 1432-1955
- PMID
- 34115215
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99542308802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
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- Parasitology
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