also known as
milky flesh
Tapioca disease
Henneguya zschokkei
Very common in adult chinook and coho salmon in Oregon, infected fish have numerous white cysts (1cm across) that resemble tapioca in their skeletal muscle. When ruptured, the cysts ooze a creamy white liquid which is filled with many microscopic myxozoan spores (~10µm). Each ovoid spore has two anterior polar capsules and two tail-like caudal processes. The life cycle is unknown, but fish are likely infected via waterborne actinospores released from a freshwater annelid worm. Fish do not seem to be adversely affected by the parasite. Although the fish flesh may appear unappetizing, the parasite is not harmful to humans or their pets.
Distribution
North America, Asia
Hosts
salmon and trout
Detection Methods:
PCR - unspecified