Review of the principal diseases affecting cultured meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

Abstract

Argyrosomus regius was recently introduced in European aquaculture as a promising species for diversification and with high potential for expansion in the coming years. The reports on pathologies affecting this species are still scarce in the bibliography, however, they can severely affect production and result in major economic losses. Some few reports were made on outbreaks and mortalities associated with the presence of bacteria such as Vibrio anguillarum and Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida. Although no viral diseases have been recognized as affecting meagre, it is known that meagre can be an asymptomatic carrier of two genotypes of nodavirus, the striped jack nervous necrosis virus and red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus. Up‐to‐date, parasites affecting meagre are included in the genera Monogenea, Nematoda and Dinoflagelate, but without major mortality outbreaks associated to this type of infections. Osteological deformities have been observed in all life stages particularly affecting the axial system in larval and early juvenile specimens, with a higher incidence in the vertebral column, being affected by vertebral fusions, lordosis and kyphosis. With this review the authors provide an overview of all the pathological and non‐pathological diseases affecting aquaculture produced meagre and provide a comprehensive overview of possible problems for the industry.