Journal of fish diseases最新文献

This study reports the first confirmed case of Myxobolus koi parasitic infection in koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) imported into Thailand. Infected fish exhibit clinical signs during the quarantine process, including lethargy, tachypnea, flared gill opercula and excessive mucus production in the gills. The gross pathological findings included swollen and pale gills interspersed with white nodules. Microscopic examination of gill biopsies revealed mucus clumps and numerous pyriform myxospores, with no evidence of other parasites. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Myxobolus spp. DNA through PCR amplification targeting the 18S SSU rRNA. Phylogenetic analysis of 776 bp sequences from our representative isolates (CU01, CU02 and CU03) revealed 100% nucleotide identity with M. koi sequences from goldfish in China (OM757920) and koi in the USA (FJ841887), which formed a distinct clade with strong bootstrap support. Haematological parameters were compared between infected and healthy fish from the same batch, revealing significantly elevated levels of creatine and ALT (p < 0.05) in the infected group. Histopathological examination revealed severe gill damage, with plasmodia infiltrating and disrupting the lamellar architecture. The well-delineated pink fibrous septa encapsulated mature myxospores and pansporoblasts. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the M. koi spores, measuring 5.2 × 2.92 μm, were oval, elongated and pyriform, with coiled polar filaments enclosed within two polar capsules. These findings document the occurrence of M. koi in Thailand, underscore its transboundary transmission via international trade and highlight the need for enhanced biosecurity measures to mitigate the spread of aquatic pathogens.

This case report presents a recent case of scuticociliatosis in a whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), housed at a zoo (Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo, Vienna, Austria). Clinical signs such as uncoordinated swimming and body tilt were observed prior to death. Postmortem examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed significant brain lesions consistent with granulomatous or necrotising encephalitis. Histopathology and molecular diagnostics confirmed the presence of the scuticociliate Miamiensis avidus and/or Philasterides dicentrarchi in the brain, with extensive tissue invasion. This case underscores the pathogenicity of scuticociliates in elasmobranchs, highlighting the need for effective management practices in aquaria to prevent or mitigate such infections. In this study, we present the first documented infection with scuticociliates in the whitetip reef shark.

Poor gill health compromises the health and welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by causing respiratory distress and increased ventilation frequency. Poor gill health is caused by numerous factors, including amoebic gill disease (AGD), jellyfish stings, and toxic algae, and is monitored by fish farmers by manual 'gill scoring'. Gill scoring involves visual inspection of gill surfaces for visible lesions, such as white mucoid patches. In commercial salmon farming, these patches are commonly associated with AGD, a major cause of poor gill health. Manual monitoring of gills is labour-intensive, costly, and stressful for fish. This study tested a non-invasive computer vision approach to detect the association between the gross gill score and fish ventilation rates in commercial farms. We hypothesised that increased ventilation rates of farmed Atlantic salmon were associated with a higher gross gill score. The computer vision model first detected fish heads and classified their mouth states (open or closed) using a convolutional neural network, followed by a tracking-by-detection method to estimate ventilation rates by calculating the frequency with which fish opened and closed their mouths. Ventilation rates were estimated from 240 videos recorded at Tasmanian salmon farms and analysed alongside gross gill score, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and fish weight. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a positive association between ventilation rates and gross gill score, although the observed change in ventilation rates was relatively small. As laboratory diagnostic methods did not confirm AGD in this study, the gross gill scores should be interpreted primarily as indicators of gill health, acknowledging that they may also reflect signs consistent with AGD. While the tested computer vision method cannot serve as a diagnostic tool, it may assist the industry in identifying health and welfare issues that require further examination. This approach provides a non-invasive way to oversee health and welfare, enhances management practices, and guides manual health assessments.

The white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major threat to shrimp farming and causes substantial economic losses in aquaculture. The VP28 envelope protein of WSSV facilitates initial systemic infection in shrimp. Although mammalian-derived antibodies are used for diagnostic tests, high costs and animal welfare concerns necessitate alternative strategies. This study produced specific yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) by immunising laying hens with the VP28 envelope protein as a cost-effective alternative for WSSV detection. IgY antibody titres and specificity were assessed using ELISA and western blotting, and their performance was compared with that of IgG rabbit antibodies. Stability was tested under various pH and salinity conditions. A time-course infectivity experiment analysed infection progression. Western blot analysis using IgY detected WSSV in shrimp samples at 6 h post-infection (h p.i.) in the haemolymph and eyestalk. By 12 h p.i., the gills, head soft tissue, appendages and other organs showed positive. Shrimp mortality occurred at 36 h p.i. Western blot findings matched those of IgG rabbit antibodies, proving that IgY antibodies were viable. Based on these findings, a validation study was conducted using 55 field samples collected from various regions of India. IgY serves as an innovative biological recognition component for early diagnosis of WSSV, offering an ethical and economical option for disease management in aquaculture.

This study assessed the functional potential of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) as larviculture probiotics. Five strains were selected and identified as belonging to the genus Weissella. In vitro assays revealed high tolerance to acidic pH (2.0-3.0), resistance to bile salts (10%), biofilm formation capacity, hydrophobicity and direct Aeromonas hydrophila inhibition. In in vivo tests, strains M13 and M14 promoted significant increases in tambaqui survival (72.2% and 68.7%; p < 0.05) and growth (standard length and eye diameter), as well as water quality (nitrite reduction), highlighting multiple beneficial effects. Innate immunity was activated, with total protein level (I3 and M14) and agglutinating titre (M13 and M14) increases. Intestinal colonisation was confirmed by bacterial counts, and the observed effects were consistent with adhesive and antimicrobial strain properties. The findings demonstrate a synergistic interaction between probiotics, hosts and pathogens, with integrated health, performance and environmental stability benefits. Strains M13 and M14 are, thus, promising alternatives to the use of antibiotics in intensive aquaculture systems, contributing to sustainable and safe tropical fish production strategies.

Lactococcus petauri is an emerging bacterial pathogen associated with disease outbreaks in freshwater and marine fish species worldwide. While it has been increasingly reported in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, no official records of L. petauri have yet been made in Italy for saltwater species. This study reports, for the first time, the presence of L. petauri in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) farmed in land-based tanks along the south-western coast of Italy, based on a retrospective analysis of previously isolated strains. Although only a single isolate was positive, the finding is of notable significance as it originated from a sample collected in 2012. This temporal aspect highlights the likelihood that L. petauri has been circulating in Italian aquaculture systems for at least a decade. The isolate also exhibited a broad antimicrobial resistance profile, including resistance to amoxicillin, fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The historical misidentification of L. petauri is linked to its clinical similarity with Lactococcus garvieae. This highlights the value of re-analysing archived strains with modern tools and underlines the need for accurate diagnostics in aquaculture. The detection in D. labrax extends the known host range and suggests a longer, undetected presence in the Mediterranean.

Decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1) causes severe disease outbreaks in shrimp and crab culture areas. A simple, rapid, and visual DIV1 assay is important for the control of viral diseases. This study presented a novel DIV1 detection method that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and lateral flow strip (LFS). After selecting primers and probes, we optimised the concentration of the reverse primers, reaction time, as well as reaction temperature of RPA-LFS detection. RPA can amplify the target gene within 18 min at a constant temperature of 38°C, and LFS can observe the amplification results within 3 min. Importantly, there is no cross-reactivity with other infectable shrimp viruses and pathogens, such as WSSV, IHHNV, TSV, EHP, CMNV, YHV, MrNV samples, as well as Vp_AHPND. In addition, RPA-LFS has high detection sensitivity, with a lower detection limit of 1.12 × 10¹ copies/μL. Using 110 field samples, the results of qPCR recommended by WOAH (OIE) and RPA-LFS were identical, indicating that RPA-LFS is as reliable as qPCR. The RPA-LFS assay is a valuable tool for the rapid and accurate detection of DIV1.

Vibrio infections cause enteritis in grouper fish, leading to high mortality and stunted growth, which is a major challenge for aquaculture. Oligochitosans, marine prebiotics with bioactive properties, have proven their potential for growth promotion and immune regulation. However, the impacts of Vibrio harveyi on the gut microbiome of grouper fish and the potential of oligochitosans to modulate these effects remain poorly understood. This study investigates the influence of oligochitosan on the gut morphology, microbiota and metabolic patterns of hybrid grouper following low-dose infection with V. harveyi. After 8 weeks of feeding, infected groupers exhibited histopathological changes in the intestine that were mitigated by oligochitosan, as evidenced by improved villus height and intestinal wall thickness. Microbiome sequencing revealed that oligochitosan enhanced α-diversity and shifted bacterial communities, particularly increasing the abundance of Fusobacteriota and Actinobacteriota. Furthermore, the prevalence of Shewanella and Vibrio, which were more abundant in infected groupers, was reduced upon oligochitosan treatment. Metabolomic analysis indicated that lipid metabolism pathways were significantly altered in response to infection and oligochitosan intervention. Overall, oligochitosan modulates the gut microbiome and metabolite profiles, potentially protecting against V. harveyi-induced intestinal dysbiosis and metabolic disorders in hybrid groupers.

Mycobacterium ulcerans pseudoshottsii is a mycolactone-producing bacterium previously isolated from Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis (Walbaum)) from Chesapeake Bay and adjacent waters of the Atlantic Coast of North America. We report the first molecular detection of this pathogen in the native Gulf strain of Morone saxatilis collected from the Pearl River, Mississippi (USA). Molecular identification was conducted using a novel PCR assay targeting the parA-625 intergenic spacer of the virulence-associated pMUM plasmid. The isolate was unambiguously assigned to M. u. pseudoshottsii based on diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and phylogenetic analysis. This report expands the known range of M. u. pseudoshottsii to include Gulf Coast watersheds and highlights the need for enhanced surveillance in wild and aquacultured fish populations of the southern United States.

Aeromonas hydrophila can cause disease in various aquatic animals, but there exist no effective alternatives to control its outbreak. In this study, diseased largemouth bass were collected from the breeding farm Lake Dahong (Chongqing, China), a strain SK-2 was isolated and identified as A. hydrophila. In order to investigate the pathogenicity of the strain and the protective efficacy of the inactivated vaccine, we firstly evaluated the virulence factors including hemolytic, proteolytic, and amylolytic activities. The results displayed that the diameters of hemolytic, proteolytic, and amylolytic circles reached 0.94 ± 0.10, 2.15 ± 0.16, and 1.51 ± 0.14 cm respectively. Median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was tested and the LD₅₀ value was calculated as 1.39 × 10⁵ CFU/g. Besides, a challenge test was conducted and two levels (LD₅₀ and 1/10 LD₅₀) were set for intraperitoneal injection. Significant immune responses were found in the serum and head kidney samples, with the higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.05). The results of qPCR revealed that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expression levels were elevated in the liver and head kidney samples, reaching a stable state at 48 h. Furthermore, the inactivated vaccine of SK-2 was prepared using formalin and 0.85% saline (CG) and the inactivated vaccine of SK-2 (AHIV) was intraperitoneally injected for 28-d immunisation. The results indicated the SOD and lysozyme (LZM) activities in the serum of the AHIV group were dramatically higher (p < 0.05) than those in the CG group, the catalase (CAT) and MDA levels were remarkably increased (p < 0.05) compared with the CG group, and these immune-related genes exhibited conspicuous upregulation (p < 0.05), suggesting the inactivated vaccine of SK-2 could bring about subdued oxidative stress in the innate immunity of largemouth bass. The wide-type SK-2 was challenged into the largemouth bass post 28-d immunisation, and the relative protection was calculated as 86.21%. These findings provide theoretical support for the bacterial disease control of largemouth bass.