Fig. 1 Compilation of photographs of an flagellate protozoan
found in the intestine of a small Heros severum (Cichlidae).These
were all from the same sample, which was dried and stained
with Crystal Violet. Bar represents approximately 10µm.
Cryptobia from intestine of H. severum
These protozoans I will refer to as a species of the Cryptobia genus. They seem NOT to be the same as similar organisms I have observed in Discus, being considerably larger and with a more rigid cell composition. My estimation of the size by use of the bar (representing 10µm) in the photograph may underestimate their size.
The Severum was extremely emaciated when it died. The sample was taken a few hours after death of the fish in a twenty gallon aquarium, Jun 24, 2002. The flagellates appeared numerous (hundreds) in a wet mount of intestinal contents. They moved with a slow fluttering motion. The aquarium also held several small Black Belt cichlids and other small Severums. These other fish had been in the tank for several months and did not show any obvious signs of disease at the time this fish was removed.
