Microsporidiosis

Prevention  

◾Microsporidia should be managed and prevented with improved hygiene.

◾It is crucial to separate tanks in the main facility to control the spread of microsporidia. These parasites can be transmitted through water and infected fish and can easily spread if there are mixing of fish in tanks.

Treatment

◾Although treatment is difficult fumagillin has proven to be effective for several microsporidia infections in some fish species. 

Zoonotic importance

◾Out of the almost 1500 species known, only 17 can cause disease in humans. Four human-pathogenic microsporidia, namely Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi, had been found in commercially harvested wild and farmed marine sources in Mediterranean coasts. Further research is required to better understand the potential role of fish in the spread of disease (Moratal et al., 2022).

◾N.B. Freezing and heating techniques are effective in destroying microsporidia spores. Fish processors can disinfect their hands and utensils by using 70% ethanol. (Leiro et al., 2012).