Which signs were observed in juvenile Almaco Jack during the outbreak?

• A. Anorexia
• B. Spinal deformities
• C. Cataracts
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

In an outbreak, animals often show a range of signs that reflect involvement of multiple body systems, not just a single issue. For juvenile Almaco Jack in this case, the observed signs were anorexia (reduced feed intake), spinal deformities (skeletal changes), and cataracts (eye changes). Anorexia is a common early red flag of illness in fish and reduces growth and condition. Spinal deformities in growing fish point to disturbances during development, which can arise from infectious processes or nutritional or environmental stresses. Cataracts indicate ocular involvement and often accompany systemic stress or toxin exposure, which can occur during an outbreak.

Seeing all three signs together suggests the outbreak affected multiple tissues and functions, making the option that includes all of the listed signs the best choice.