The Saltwater Ich or White Spot Disease (Cryptocaryon) parasite has 4 distinct phases in its life. (See Graphic below.)
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1. Tomont
Stage
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Trophonts which have burrowed into the gills & formed cysts, protected by gill mucus.
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Trophonts can live in the cyst embedded in the gills almost indefinitely.
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No effective treatment at this stage.
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2.
Trophont Stage
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Tomont cysts have been discharged from the gills.
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Can survive for
6
to 10 days in the cyst.
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Hyposalinity (Osmotic Shock) and some chemical treatments are effective in exploding the cyst and Tomites.
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3. Tomite
Stage
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Parasites (Tomites)
discharged from the Tomont cyst and become free swimming.
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Tomites
can survive for 1-2 days before they must find another host.
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Hyposalinity (Osmotic
Shock) treatment effective in exploding the Tomites.
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Many chemical
treatments effective at this stage.
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4. Trophont
Stage
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Tomites
which attached to the fish's gills feed from the host, grow, form a cyst
and become dormant.
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Tomites
which attach to the fish's surface feed from the host, grow, detach from
the fish and go to the Trophont Stage 2.
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Hyposalinity (Osmotic
Shock) treatment effective in exploding the surface cysts.
-
Some chemicals
effective in treatment of surface cysts at this stage.