Infectious diseases are among the most serious constraints to warmwater aquaculture. During the past 30 years, reported fish diseases in the southeastern United States have increased greatly; much of which was due to expansion and intensification of aquaculture, especially in the channel catfish industry. Viruses, bacteria, water molds, protozoa, helminths, and crustacea induce disease in warmwater fishes. While some of these are obligate pathogens, most are opportunistic facultative organisms that produce disease when fish health is compromised by injury or environmental stressors. The preferred method of controlling infectious diseases in warmwater aquaculture is by using “best management practices” that include improving and controlling the environment, handling and transporting fish properly, stocking at reasonable densities, using proper quantities of high quality feeds, using legal drugs judiciously, and vaccinating when effective products are available.
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