Pathological findings in captive syngnathids: Pipefish, seadragons and seahorses.

Bilateral myopathy and bacterial infections predominate in captive syngnathids; parasite monitoring essential.

This retrospective pathological study examined 392 captive syngnathids (274 seahorses, 92 pipefishes, 26 seadragons) from multiple aquaria using necropsy, histopathology, molecular, and parasitological analyses. Non-mycobacterial bacteria were the most prevalent infectious agents (15.1%), followed by mycobacteria (6.1%). Parasites represented the second major disease category, with ciliated protists most common (10.2%), particularly scuticociliates. Trematodes affected 6.1% of specimens, while cestodes and nematodes were rare (0.24% each). Myxozoans and Sphaeromyxa sp. were identified in 2.7% of cases, and phaeohyphomycosis in 1.46%. Environmental pathologies were dominated by bilateral symmetrical myopathy (34.1%) and gas bubble disease (4.63%). No neoplastic or congenital diseases were observed. The study identified several previously unreported agents in syngnathids, substantially advancing knowledge of disease in this aquarium-managed fish group.

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