RNA sequencing of Cryptocaryon irritans, a parasitic ciliate of marine teleosts

Cryptocaryon irritans is a parasitic ciliate of marine teleosts, which causes cryptocaryoniasis. Cryptocaryoniasis is a major threat to marine cage culture in tropical and subtropical waters. However, efficient treatments for controlling C. irritans infections have not been developed, especially for food fish in net cage culture. Hence, more effective chemotherapeutic drugs or vaccines against C. irritans are required. In this study, transcriptome analyses of C. irritans were conducted to find new candidates for vaccination and chemotherapy against the parasite.