Exophiala sp.

Also known as: Black yeast infection

Exophiala is a genus of yeast-like fungi that can cause systemic mycoses in fish. These infections often lead to granulomatous lesions in internal organs, affecting the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Infected fish may show signs of weight loss, lethargy, and swelling due to internal organ damage. The fungus is opportunistic and can thrive in compromised or stressed fish populations.

Distribution: Global, particularly in aquaculture systems and natural freshwater environments
Hosts: Various freshwater and marine fish species
Detection Methods: Fungal culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar, histopathological examination of infected tissues, PCR for species confirmation
Target tissue: Internal organs (liver, kidney, spleen)