Isolation of Aphanomyces sp(p). associated with skin lesions and mortalities in the striped (Mugil cephalus) and the thin lip (Liza ramada) grey mullets

Aphanomyces spp. were isolated from skin erosions and ulcers of cultured Striped and thin lip grey mullets. Fungi with non-septated hyphae were found in wet mount preparations of skin. Samples inoculated on glucose peptone liquid medium for three successive steps then mycelial growths were transferred into glucose peptone yeast extract agar medium. Aphanomyces spp. were successfully isolated, in axenic cultures, from seven out of 35 fish samples. The cultures were maintained on glucose peptone yeast extract liquid media. Formation of sporangia in tap water that contained hemp seeds confirmed that the grey mullet isolates are members of tlx genus Aphanomyces. All isolates grew progressively at salinities thar ranged from 2-8 ppt, however, only one isolate survived at 37 degrees C.