Investigation in to Reports of Fish Mortalities Caused by E.U.S. in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve
- Sri Lanka, Forest Department, 1989,
- 8p.
Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), formerly known as Ulcerative Fish Disease, was first recorded in Sri Lanka during late 1987 and has since been steadily spreading through the wet-zone areas. The cause of the disease has not yet been determined and it has been recorded to effect many of our indigenous fresh and brackish water species. On receiving reports of fish mortalities within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve it was decided to undertake a field visit to the area in order to verify the reports and collect fish and water samples for analysis. Given the fact that the description of the disease fitted closely with Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS), see appendix 1 for brief report on EUS, a field visit was undertaken with the following objectives: 1. To verify the presence of EUS. 2. Collect samples for further laboratory level histological, microbiological and transmission studies on EUS. 3. Carry out water quality studies to determine any relationship between any water quality parameters and the disease. 4. Add to ?he information on the spread of the disease within Sri Lanka. Sinharaja being an important natural heritage both in terms of its beauty- (to the biologist and layman alike) and as an invaluable gene pool, it was considered worthwhile monitoring the turn of events in the reserve witli regards to EUS.