Comparison of different diagnostic methods for the detection of Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) in farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Enteromyxum leei is an enteric Myxozoan parasite causing the so-called “razor blade syndrome” in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), a chronic condition characterized by a progressive weight loss up to emaciation in adult fish. Currently no treatments are found to be effective against this parasite, but a recent experimental study showed promising results using a functional feed for mitigating enteromyxosis (Palenzuela et al., 2020. Dis. Aquat. Org., 138, 111–120). During a field trial aimed to confirm the efficacy of this functional feed in an Italian sea bream facility where enteromyxosis was already known to be present, different methods for the detection of E. leei were compared to establish the more reliable diagnostic test also in relation to a non-lethal approach