Evaluation of aquarium antibiotic formulations

Comparison of Vibrio spp. populations found in seawater, in exhibition aquaria, in fish intestine and in fish feed

AIMS

Vibrio populations in the seawater supply and the water of seven exhibition aquaria that simulate various Mediterranean and tropical ecosystems were compared. The similarity of Vibrio populations in the intestine of various fish species, feed and water was examined. Resistance to the antibiotics used in fish health management was analysed for the dominant Vibrio isolates.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Samples were collected for 1 year from seven exhibition tanks reproducing different ecosystems. The diversity and population similarity among vibrios were determined using a miniaturized biochemical phenotyping method. Similar Vibrio populations were found in the water supply and in the water of the Mediterranean ecosystems. However, different Vibrio populations were found in the water of tanks with tropical ecosystems. Vibrio populations in the water seemed to have a greater effect on the composition of intestinal Vibrio populations than those in feed. No resistance to antibiotics was observed, indicating their appropriate use for health management.

CONCLUSIONS

Water characteristics have a greater impact on the composition of Vibrio populations in aquaria and fish intestinal microbiota than bacteria in feed.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The microbiological monitoring water could provide valuable information for managing the health of exhibition aquaria.

Tropical fish medicine. Fish chemotherapeutics

The author considers the pros and cons of various routes of delivery of medication in fish as well as the drugs and doses used for treatment of bacterial infections and various parasitic infections. Also discussed are emergency and metabolic drugs.

Antibiotic resistance of bacteria in water containing ornamental fishes

Water containing ornamental fishes was found to frequently contain countable numbers of bacteria that were resistant to one or more antibiotic or chemotherapeutic agents. The multidrug-resistant strains most commonly isolated were lactose-fermenting Citrobacter freundii. The overall resistance of these aquaria strains was greater than the previously described resistance of clinical isolates of C. freundii. Although the strains examined appeared to lack R-factors, this pool of resistant bacteria may have public health implications.

Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial species from ornamental aquarium plants

Ornamental aquarium plants were demonstrated to carry as many as 10(8) viable mesophilic bacteria per g. Gram-negative organisms predominated among the 19 genera of bacteria identified. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was readily isolated from 53% of the samples tested.