Expert system for ichthyopathological diagnosis

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 129; no. 1; p. 437
• Main Authors: Bogatu, D., Bumbaru, S., Oprea, L., Trofimov, L., Novac, C., Metaxa, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1995
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/0044-8486(95)91990-D

A group of specialists in ichthyopathology, aquaculture and computation have worked out for the first time in Romania an expert system for diagnosing diseases of fish (SEDIP). The programme can be used on any computer compatible with the models IBMPC/XT/AT. We have established the knowledge base for the diagnosis of 78 more frequent diseases in fresh water and sea water fish species. The knowledge base includes: the classification of the species of fish according to the environmental conditions they live in and their age; the seasons when the diseases manifest themselves; "the models of diseases", given by the interrelations between the symptoms and the lesions specific to the diseases grouped according to the organs affected (eyes, mouth, tegument, branchiae, fins, intestine, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, gas vesicle etc.) in main classes; and other special criteria for diagnosis. The system carries out the following functions: it settles the diagnosis of the diseases of the fish on the basis of a dialogue between the computer and the user technologist from a fish farm. During this dialogue the user has to answer some successive questions concerning the symptoms already noticed. The questions are asked in a rising order of the level of difficulty in establishing the presence of the respective symptom. We then rate a "trust factor" which takes values between -1 and +1. A list of the diseases justifying the symptoms recorded is also displayed. Finally, it recommends measures for the prevention and treatment corresponding to the diseases taken under study.