Abstract

Different types of fungal infections of Astacus leptodactylus Esch. have been studied. A mycosis of gills have been observed, frequently in animals showing minute wounds of these organs, which also permit the penetration of bacteria into the hemolymph of the crayfish. The agent of the disease has been cultivated in vitro and determined as Fusarium sp. Histological studies have permited to follow the development of melanized hyphae inside the branchial tubules. Injection of conidia of Fusarium sp. reproduces the disease, and the capacity of this fungus to penetrate the host by a natural way is now investigated. Fungal infections of eggs have also been discovered. These infections are caused by a phycomycete of the family of saproleniacae, still uncompletely determined. Experimental contaminations have shown that this fungus has a strong destroying action on eggs of A. leptodactylus in conditions of non-maternal incubation. Antifungal treatments with malachite green can be effective against this disease. As A. leptodactylus receive an increasing interest in France, specially for crayfish breeding, the development of such researches on pathology and control of the diseases appear more and more necessary.

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