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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328916
Research Project: Pathogen Characterization, Host Immune Response and Development of Strategies to Reduce Losses to Disease in Aquaculture

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Title: Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus agalactiae

Author
item Shoemaker, Craig
item Xu, Dehai
item SOTO, ESTEBAN - University Of California

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2016
Publication Date: 4/1/2017
Citation: Shoemaker, C.A., Xu, D., Soto, E. 2017. Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus agalactiae. In: Woo, P.T.K., Cipriano, R.C.,editors. Fish Virus and Bacteria: Pathobiology and Protection. Boston, MA: CAB International. p. 298-313.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Streptococcus iniae and S. agalactiae are economically important Gram positive bacterial pathogens of cultured and wild fish with a worldwide distribution. Both bacteria are potential zoonotic pathogens and have been associated most often with infections in immunocompromised people. Streptococcus iniae was believed to be the main Gram positive pathogen of farmed marine and freshwater fish in the late 1990-2000's. Streptococcus agalactiae, Lancefield group B streptococci, has emerged as a major pathogen of farmed tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in Asian, Latin and South American countries in recent times. This invited book chapter will review the current knowledge of these Gram positive pathogens of farmed and wild fish including: 1) the description of the bacteria; 2) identification of the modes of transmission; 3) the geographic distribution; 4) diagnosis and clinical signs of disease; 5) pathology and pathophysiology; 6) control strategies including vaccination and selective breeding; and 7) identification of knowledge gaps with suggestions for future studies.