Costia (Noun)
Meaning
A flagellate that is the cause of the frequently fatal fish disease costiasis.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The flagellate costia was identified in laboratory results as the cause of the widespread illness affecting the aquarium fish.
- Aquarists often struggle to diagnose costia as it can be mistaken for other flagellates that have similar characteristics.
- Infection with the costia parasite usually presents with rapid onset of symptoms, including lethargy and loss of scales.
- Costia can survive outside its host for up to 3 hours and readily invade other fish in the same aquarium.
- Mild infections of costia can be treated with salt baths and specialized fish medications, but severe cases are often fatal.