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Title: ACINETOBACTER SPP. ISOLATED FROM FERAL ATLANTIC MENHADEN FROM DELAWARE INLAND BAYS, U.S.A.

Author
item Evans, Joyce
item Klesius, Phillip
item Shoemaker, Craig
item Shelby, Richard
item HUMPHRIES, E
item GARCIA, J
item GAGLIARDI, JOEL

Submitted to: European Association of Fish Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2001
Publication Date: 9/9/2001
Citation: EVANS, J.J., KLESIUS, P.H., SHOEMAKER, C.A., SHELBY, R.A., HUMPHRIES, E.M., GARCIA, J.C., GAGLIARDI, J.V. ACINETOBACTER SPP. ISOLATED FROM FERAL ATLANTIC MENHADEN FROM DELAWARE INLAND BAYS, U.S.A.. TENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF FISH PATHOLOGISTS "DISEASES OF FISH AND SHELLFISH". 2001.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Using a multi-disciplinary approach, we investigated the potential of multiple fish health variables to determine the cause of skin ulcers in Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) collected from inland bays in Delaware, U.S.A. Three hundred and fifteen menhaden with ulcers (n=109) and without ulcers (n=206) were collected. Microflora sampled from brain, head kidney, and skin or ulcer, and hematocrit and immunoglobulin levels were evaluated. Thirty percent of the fish with ulcers were found to be culture positive for Acinetobacter spp., a human pathogen causing skin in- fections especially in immunocompromised hosts. Acinetobacter spp. isola- tion from the ulcer was significantly greater than isolation from either brain or kidney. Hematocrit and immunoglobulin levels were significantly lower (p< 0.0001) in fish with ulcers and in fish from which Acinetobacter spp. were isolated. Of the 29 Acinetobacter spp isolates(21 beta and 8 non nhemolytic) characterized from the skin, dermal ulcers, brain and head kid- ney of menhaden, all were Gram negative, cocco-bacilli, oxidase negative and glucose non-fermentative corresponding to phenotypic traits of the genus Acinetobacter. These organisms, previously unreported from feral fish dermal ulcers or as potential fish pathogens, can produce mortality and skin lesions in fish experimentally inoculated.