15. Lymphocystis virus disease

Lymphocystis is a chronic self-limiting disease that affects a number of teleost species throughout the world. Although LCD is frequently benign, it may be responsible for significant economic losses related to poor growth rate, nonmarketability of fish with lesions, and secondary bacterial infections of skin lesions resulting from the phenomenon of cannibalism. The economic impact of the disease is greater the higher the commercial value of the affected species and its importance in aquaculture production. In this respect, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) suffer significant economic losses from lymphocystis in Europe and Asia aquaculture, respectively.