Losses resulting from white spot disease have a significant impact on aquaculture.
Feeding trophonts damage the fishes' epithelium, interfering with osmoregulation and gas exchange in the gills. Duration of feeding is extended or shortened at lower and higher temperatures, respectively. When completely developed, trophonts leave the epithelium. At this stage they are referred to as tomonts. These will emerge from the cyst as theronts, the free-swimming, infective stage.