Parasitism of catfishes: A danger for aquaculture

All the known groups of parasites, both protozoan and metazoan, have been recorded from Siluroidei. By their location on the host one can distinguish: ectoparasites, living on the tegument and/or the gills; mesoparasites, found mainly in the digestive tract and endoparasites, located in the body (cavities or tissus). Three factors seem to be important to determine parasite accumulations: 1) the multiplication rate, linked to the reproductive mode, particularly asexual; 2) the size of parasitic organism, which can facilitate the host invasion and 3) the life cycle, direct (monoxenous or holoxenous) or indirect (heteroxenous). The examination of papers related to Siluroidei showed that the most studied type of pathogenic agents or parasites depend on the state of knowledge in the country where farming is practiced. The most currently quoted parasitic disease on Ictalurus punctatus are detailled. Parasitism on other Siluroidei of actual or potential interest for aquaculture is discussed.