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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287504
Title: Bacterial infections from aquatic species: potential for and prevention of contact zoonoses

Author
item HAENEN, OLGA - Central Veterinary Institute
item Evans, Joyce
item BERTHE, FRANK - European Association For Food Safety

Submitted to: Scientific and Technical Review
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/2012
Publication Date: 11/1/2013
Citation: Haenen, O.L., Evans, J.J., Berthe, F. 2013. Bacterial infections from aquatic species: potential for and prevention of contact zoonoses. Scientific and Technical Review. 32(2):497-507.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As aquaculture production and consumption of aquacultural products increases, the possibility of zoonotic infection from either handling or ingestion of these products also increases. The principal pathogens acquired topically from fish or shellfish through spine/pincer puncture or open wounds are Aeromonas hydrophilia, Edwardsiella tarda, Mycobacterium marinum, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio vulnificus and V. damsela. All of these indigenous pathogens have also been associated with disease outbreaks in food fish. Outbreaks are often related to management factors such as quality and quantity of nutrients in the water and stocking density, which increase bacterial loads on the external surface of the fish. As a result, diseased fish are more likely to transmit infection to humans. This review will provide an account of worldwide human cases of zoonosis from the principal fish and shellfish zoonotic pathogens.