What does WD mean in SPORTS

Whirling disease is caused by a microscopic parasitic worm called Myxobolus cerebralis, which is spread via cysts on the feet of birds.

The most obvious sign of whirling disease is a twisting or “whirling” motion performed by infected fish. Other signs may include changes in coloration, loss of appetite, redness around the eyes and mouth, spine deformities, swollen tissues and lesions on the skin. Infected fish may also become lethargic and swim erratically.

Preventing your fish from getting whirling disease involves both good biosecurity practices when introducing new fish to your pond or lake and careful management of angler activities to limit the potential for spreading the parasite to new locations. Good biosecurity practices include never introducing any wild-caught species or plants in the same water with your existing stock, as well as maintaining proper pond cleanliness and water quality standards. Anglers should never move live baitfish between bodies of water or introduce plants from other waters either in their ponds or lakes.

Unfortunately there is no known cure for whirling disease, but there are several measures you can take to reduce its impact on your stock population. These include reducing stocking densities and increasing water exchange cycles, improving water quality through aeration and filtration systems, practicing catch-and-release fishing techniques only if necessary and removing any dead fish immediately after they're spotted in order to prevent further spread of the parasite.

It typically takes several weeks to several months before an infected fish begins displaying symptoms of infection after being exposed to the parasite. However it can also take up to two years before visible symptoms first appear in some cases depending on environmental factors such as temperature and pH levels in their surrounding environment that might influence how quickly the parasite develops within them.