Diseases of Salmonids

МИНИСТЕРСТВО СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА  

РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ 

 

ДЕПАРТАМЕНТ НАУЧНО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ  

И ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ 

САНКТ-ПЕТЕРБУРГСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ  

УНИВЕРСИТЕТ ВЕТЕРИНАРНОЙ МЕДИЦИНЫ 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

DISEASES OF SALMONIDS 

 
 
 

Учебно-методическое пособие 

по английскому языку 

для магистров 

факультета водных биоресурсов и аквакультуры 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Санкт-Петербург 

2021 

УДК: 372.881.111.1 
 
 
 

Барляева Е.А. Diseases of Salmonids. Учебно-методическое пособие 

по английскому языку для магистров факультета водных биоресурсов и 
аквакультуры. – СПб., Издательство СПбГУВМ, 2021 г. –  65 с. 
 
 

Учебно-методическое пособие ―Diseases of Salmonids‖ предназначе
но для студентов, обучающихся по программам магистратуры. Направление подготовки - 35.04.07 Водные биоресурсы и аквакультура. Учебнометодическое пособие состоит из семи разделов, построенных по единому 
принципу. 
Каждый 
раздел 
содержит 
несколько 
профессионально
ориентированных текстов, снабженных упражнениями, нацеленными на 
развитие навыков чтения, перевода, устной и письменной речи. Аутентичные тексты снабжены списком слов с переводом и транскрипцией. 

Данное учебно-методическое пособие позволит студентам расши
рить как языковые, так и профессиональные компетенции. 
 
 

Составитель: Барляева Е. А., доцент кафедры иностранных языков 

СПбГУВМ, кандидат филологических наук 
 
 

Рецензент: Трушкин В.А., декан факультета водных биоресурсов и 

аквакультуры СПбГУВМ, доцент, кандидат ветеринарных наук 
 
 
 
 

Учебно-методическое пособие одобрено и рекомендовано к изданию 

методическим советом Санкт-Петербургского государственного 

университета ветеринарной медицины, протокол № 1 от 27.01. 2021. 

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

© ФГБОУ ВО «СПбГУВМ», 2021 

UNIT 1 

FISH EXAMINATION FOR POSSIBLE DISEASES 

 

TEXT A 

METHODS OF EXAMINING FISH 

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL EXAMINATION 

 

VOCABULARY LIST 

abdomen (n)
[ˈæb.də.mən]
брюшная полость

buffered (adj)
[ˈbʌf.ət]
буферный

cavity (n)
[ˈkæv.ɪ.ti]
полость

cloudiness (n)
[ˈklaʊdɪnəs]
помутнение

consistency (n)
[kənˈsɪs.tən.si]
консистенция

cornea (n)
[kɔːˈni.ə]
роговица

edema (n)
[ɪˈdiː.mə]
отек

exophthalmia (n)
[ekˌsäfˈthalmi.ə]
экзофтальм

exudate (n)
[ˈeks(y)üˌdeɪt]
экссудат

fixative (n)
[ˈfɪk.sə.tɪv]
фиксатор

fraying (n)
[freɪ]
истирание

hemorrhage
[ˈhem.ər.ɪdʒ]
кровоизлияние

hyphae (n)
[ˈhaɪfə]
гифы

lesion (n)
[ˈliː.ʒən]
поражение

saline (n)
[ˈseɪ.laɪn]
солевой раствор

swab (n)
[swɒb]
мазок

swollen (adj)
[ˈswəʊlən]
распухший

 

A dissection kit, microscope and slides, fixative and bacteriological culture 

plates are required for external fish examination. 

External examination. Select at least five live fish exhibiting abnormal 

signs. Dead fish can also be examined but are not usually suitable for further 
analysis because within 10-20 min of death the tissues break down and become 
invaded by environmental bacteria, which mask the presence of the primary cause 
of the disease. Before sampling live fish, note their behavioral patterns.  

Examining the fish, you should carefully note and record the general condi
tion of all external surfaces of the fish, paying special attention to raised or lost 
scales, areas of discoloration, parasites, location of any lesions, swelling of the 
abdomen and any suggestion of skeletal deformity or muscle atrophy. Examine 
the eyes for cloudiness of the cornea, cataract, exophthalmia and any sign of the 
blood exudate or edema. All fins should be examined for evidence of erosion, 
fraying, necrosis, small colored spots, raised areas or hemorrhage. Both the normal skin surface and the margins of any lesion should be examined and bacteriological samples should be taken from developing wounds rather than larger lesions as these are subject to secondary contamination. Swabs should be plated 

aseptically onto an appropriate culture medium for later bacteriological examination. Examine fresh skin scrapes microscopically for bacteria, protozoa or fungal 
hyphae. Samples from the edge of lesions may be fixed for light microscopy. Examine the oral cavity and anus for any discoloration, raised areas or parasites. Fecal material, if present, should be examined microscopically. 

The weight and length of the fish should be determined and other relevant 

information recorded including feeding regime, stocking density, water temperature, mortality rate, first observation of the disease signs, any recent treatment or 
handling, change in water quality. 

Internal Examination. If required, a blood sample should be taken before 

dissecting the fish. During dissection, examine each organ and note any abnormalities concerning size, color, consistency, presence of hemorrhage and fluid in 
body cavities. Bacteriological samples should be taken with a sterile loop and 
spread on a suitable culture medium. Portions of the organs can then be removed 
and fixed for light microscopy. Buffered formal saline is a good general purpose 
fixative. 

 

Exercise 1. Look through the text and find information about: 
- equipment necessary for external and internal examination; 
- condition of fish chosen for examination; 
- information that should be recorded along with fish examination; 
- fixative used for storing bacteriological samples; 
 
Exercise 2. Choose the appropriate definition. 
 
dissection kit
a chemical substance used to preserve 
and stabilize biological materials prior 
to microscopy or other examination

fixative
a piece of glass or other transparent 
substance on which material is placed 
for examination under a microscope

slide
method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in 
predetermined culture medium under 
the controlled laboratory conditions

bacteriological culture
it consists of a set of lab instruments 
used to perform dissection on a plant or 
animal specimen

 
Exercise 3. Give Russian equivalents of the following symptoms. 
Areas of discoloration, raised scales, swelling of the abdomen, skeletal deformity, 
erosion of the skin, muscle atrophy, edema; blood exudate, skin lesion; cloudiness 
of the cornea. 

Exercise 4. Make up collocations. 
 

feeding
cavity

stocking
scrapes

oral
density

mortality
regime

skin
temperature

water
rate

 
 
Exercise 5. Translate into English. 
Помутнение роговицы глаза, экзофтальмия, кровотечение, отек, кожное поражение, катаракта, истирание плавников. 
 
Exercise 6. Show in the picture parts of the fish mentioned in the text. 

 

 

 

Exercise 7. Answer the questions. 
 
1. What equipment is necessary to carry out external fish examination? 
2. Can dead fish be also examined? What happens to the dead fish within  
10-20 min of its death? 
3. Which external surfaces of the fish body should be carefully examined for abnormalities? 
4. Why is it so important to collect swab samples and fresh skin scrapes? 
5. What information not related to external fish examination should be necessarily 
recorded? 
6. What does internal examination deal with? 
7. Which fixative is generally used for preserving parts of the fish body? 
 

TEXT B 

FURTHER  ANALYSIS  AND DIAGNOSTICS OF DISEASES IN FISH 

 

VOCABULARY LIST 

clue (n)
[kluː]
ключ

confirmatory (adj)
[kənˈfɜːmətərɪ]
подтверждающий

copper (n)
[ˈkɒp.ər]
медь

definitive (adj)
[dɪˈfɪn.ɪ.tɪv]
окончательный

filament (n)
[ˈfɪl.ə.mənt]
здесь: филамент

fungi (n) (pl)
[ˈfʌŋ. ɡaɪ]
грибы

fungal (adj)
[ˈfʌŋ.ɡəl]
грибковый

fusion (n)
[ˈfjuː.ʒən]
слияние

lice (n) (pl)
[laɪs]
вши

presumptively (adv)
[prɪˈzʌmptɪvlɪ]
предположительно

scraping (n)
[skreɪpɪŋ]
соскоб

smear (n)
[smɪər]
мазок

stained (adj)
[steɪnt]
окрашенный

 
Fresh material spread on microscope slides can be examined immediately 

under the microscope and the presence of bacteria, fungi and microparasites can 
be readily observed in skin, gill and gut scrapings. Many abnormalities of gill filaments, e.g. swelling, fusion, aneurisms and erosion can also be seen in fresh 
preparations, smears of internal organs (especially, kidney) suitably fixed and 
stained (e.g. by Giesma or Gram stains) which can reveal  the presence of bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites. 

Many diseases, especially in salmon hatcheries are caused by opportunistic 

pathogens following a stressful event (e.g. exposure to poor water quality). These 
include the Cytophaga group of bacteria, the fungus Saprolegnia and several protozoan ecto-parasites. Many of them may be presumptively diagnosed on the site 
directly from examination of the fish. Remedies for these pathogenes mainly 
comprise bathing in chemicals such as salt, formalin, copper sulphate, chloromine 
T and malachite green. 

In the marine environment, the most common and significant parasite prob
lem is sea lice, which are easily diagnosed. Therapies for lice infestations include 
a variety of bath as well as in-fed treatments, all of which are subject to veterinary 
and environmental controls.  Further diagnostic procedures require specialized 
laboratory facilities and tests. 

Many protozoan ecto-and endo-parasites and fungal pathogens can be iden
tified by microscopic examination of smears and histological sections. The main 
value of microscopy is to analyze the histopathology of disease which to a trained 
pathologist can provide important clues to the nature of the disease because different diseases produce different pathologies and some features may be associated 

only with certain diseases. However, other confirmatory tests are usually required 
to make a definitive diagnosis with respect to bacterial and viral pathogens. 
 
Exercise 8. Look through the text and find information about: 
- abnormalities that may be detected in fresh preparations and smears of internal 
fish organs; 
- opportunistic pathogens that can cause many diseases; 
- most significant parasite in marine environment; 
- importance of histopathology in diagnostics; 
 
Exercise 9. Give Russian equivalents to the following: 
Gut scraping; abnormality; internal organs; viral pathogen; histological section; 
confirmatory test; diagnostic procedure; in-fed treatment; marine environment; 
malachite green; opportunistic pathogens; definitive diagnosis; 
  
Exercise 10. Give the English equivalents to the Russian words in brackets. 
1. Fresh material, (распределенный на стекле микроскопа) can be examined 
immediately under the microscope and the presence of (бактерии, грибы и микропаразиты) can be readily observed in (соскобы с кожи, жабер и из кишечника). 2. Many abnormalities of (жаберных филаментов, такие как опухоль 
жаберных филаментов, их слияние, аневризма и эрозия) can also be seen in 
fresh preparations of (мазки внутренних органов) (especially, почка) suitably 
fixed and stained (e.g. by Giesma or Gram stains). 3. Many diseases, especially in 
(питомники лосося) are caused by (условные-патогеннный организм) following a stressful event (e.g. воздействие воды плохого качества). 4. (Лечение) 
for these pathogenes mainly comprise bathing in chemicals such as salt, 
(формалин), (сульфат меди), (хлорамин Т) and (малахитовый зеленый).  
5. Many protozoan ecto-and endo-parasites and (грибковые патогены) can be 
identified by (микроскопическое исследование мазков и гистологических 
срезов). 
 
Exercise  11. Translate from Russian into English. 
Свежий препарат, окраска по Граму, внутренние органы, заражение вшами, 
грибковые патогены, исследование мазков, окончательный диагноз, питомник лосося, гистологический срез. 
 
Exercise 12. Translate from Russian into English. 
1. Многие заболевания, особенно в питомниках лосося, вызываются оппортунистическими патогенами вслед за стрессом, перенесенным рыбами в воде плохого качества. 2. Многие из этих патогенов могут быть диагностированы на месте во время осмотра рыбы. 3. В морской среде морские вши 
представляют собой наиболее распространенный вид паразитов. 4.  Многие 
экто- и эндо паразиты, а также грибковые инфекции могут быть идентифицированы при микроскопическом исследовании мазков и гистологических