Fish-mycopathology is the discipline of science which deals with the fish diseases caused by fungal pathogens (Fish-mycceses.) Although the studies in this field started as early as 1777 but even now many phases of it have not been investigated. Form Indian waters very little was known about the fish-fungus complex prior to the studies conducted by the author. Our studies in this field since 1973 have revealed that in Indian fresh-water fisheries, the fungi cause infections at all the stages of life cycle of fish viz. eggs, hatchlings, fry, fingerlings and adults and very often such infections assume epidemic proportions without warning which result in heavy mortality in fish populatios as well as a severe destruction of the fish-seed. This all causes a tremendous loss to the fish-industry and ultimately to the nation.

The purpose of this book is to introduce this rather new discipline of life-sciences to the readers and to provide an upto date information about the fungal disease of fishes to the fishery biologists, fish-pathologists, fish-farmers and mycologists, who might not be able to go through the extensive literature published during the period of last two hundred years which are quite scattered in a wide variety of journals and reports etc, most of which are from other countries.

The most studied aspect of fish- mycopathology is the Dermatomycoses. A detailed information on this type of fungal infection of fishes are provided in the present title alongwith mehtodology and a brief sketch of the main problems encountered during such studies. This will help the future investigators in this field. Other two types of the fungal diseases viz. Branchiomycoses and Systemic mycoses are still poorly defined and comparatively very little is known about these from Indian waters. Similar is the case with the role of Deuteromycetous fungi in fish-fungus complex. An attempt has been made to provide a consolidated but complete information on these aspects also which may help our Indian fishery people and mycologists to contribute in this direction too. The bibliography includes upto date reference of the work done in this field from Indian and abroad.

The book is being presented with the hope that it will help our Indian fishery biologists, mycologists, fish-growers, students and researchers in life sciences. Any comments from our learned will be cordially welcomed.