''Cryptobia'' is a genus of

kinetoplastids Kinetoplastida (or Kinetoplastea, as a class) is a group of flagellated protists belonging to the phylum Euglenozoa, and characterised by the presence of an organelle with a large massed DNA called kinetoplast (hence the name). The organisms are ...

. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)
''Cryptobia'' (''Trypanoplasma'') ''salmositica'' and salmonid cryptobiosis.
''Journal of Fish Diseases'' 26(11-12) 627–46.

Biology

There are 52 species of ''Cryptobia'' known from fish. 40 of these live in the blood, 7 in the gut, and 5 on the body surface. Examples include: *''

Cryptobia branchialis ''Cryptobia'' is a genus of kinetoplastids. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)''Cryptobia'' (''Tr ...

'', an

ectoparasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...

that lives on the skin or gills. It can deform the skin and cause anorexia and death. *''

Cryptobia iubilans ''Cryptobia'' is a genus of kinetoplastids. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)''Cryptobia'' (''Tr ...

'', an

endoparasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...

that lives in the intestines and causes granulomatous inflammation of the abdominal organs, resulting in weight loss and death. *''

Cryptobia salmositica ''Cryptobia'' is a genus of kinetoplastids. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)''Cryptobia'' (''Tr ...

'', '' C. borreli'', and '' C. bullocki'', blood parasites that lead to anaemia and lesions in the haematopoietic tissues. Some ''Cryptobia'' parasitize other animal taxa. Examples include: *''

Cryptobia innominata ''Cryptobia'' is a genus of kinetoplastids. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)''Cryptobia'' (''Tr ...

'', a parasite of the snail '' Triodopsis tridentata''.Kozloff, E. N. (2004)
Redescription of ''Cryptobia helicis'' Leidy, 1846 (Kinetoplasta: Bodonea: Cryptobiidae), disposition of flagellates mistakenly assigned to this species, and description of a new species from a North American pulmonate snail.
''Acta Protozoologica'' 43 123-32.

Diagnosis and treatment

In fish, the disease is most important in

salmonid Salmonidae is a family of ray-finned fish that constitutes the only currently extant family in the order Salmoniformes . It includes salmon (both Atlantic and Pacific species), trout (both ocean-going and landlocked), chars, freshwater whitefis ...

s. Marine and freshwater fish can be infected. These protozoans can be found on most continents. Bloodfeeding

leech Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented bodie ...

es are implicated in the transmission of the bloodborne species. The protozoans can be identified in skin and gill

biopsies A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist. The process involves extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a diseas ...

and blood samples. For some of the protozoans,

antibodies An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...

can be detected in the fish using ELISA and fluorescent antibody testing. Chemical treatment with isometamidium chloride has been effective. There is a vaccine against ''C. salmositica'' which lasts up to 2 years.

Taxonomy

Species include:Guiry, M. D. & G. M. Guiry. 2013
''Cryptobia''.
AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. 11 June 2013. *'' Cryptobia bialata'' *'' Cryptobia borreli'' *''

'' *'' Cryptobia bullocki'' *''

Cryptobia carinariae ''Cryptobia'' is a genus of kinetoplastids. Several species are known for being fish pathogens. They can be found in other animals, as well. The name ''Trypanoplasma'' is occasionally used for some of these.Woo, P. T. K. (2003)''Cryptobia'' (''Try ...

'' *'' Cryptobia geccorum'' *'' Cryptobia helicis'' *''

'' *''

References

Kinetoplastids Parasites of fish Euglenozoa genera {{Excavata-stub