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Yazdi Z, Griffin MJ, Pierezan F, Eetemadi A, Shahin K, Soto E. Quantitative PCR for detection and quantification of Veronaea botryosa in fish and environmental samples. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 144:175-185. [PMID: 33955855 DOI: 10.3354/dao03582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Systemic phaeohyphomycosis, aka 'fluid belly', is one of the most important emergent diseases in sturgeon Acipenser spp. aquaculture. The etiologic agent is the saprobic, dematiaceous fungus Veronaea botryosa. Effective vaccines and chemotherapeutic treatments are currently unavailable. Additionally, the fungus is a slow-growing organism, taking from 10-15 d for colonies to be observed in agar media. To this end, a specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the V. botryosa β-tubulin gene was developed and validated. The specificity of the assay to V. botryosa was initially confirmed in silico and in vivo against common fungal fish pathogens, including closely related members of the order Chaetothyriales (Exophiala spp.) and other black pigmented fungi (Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp.), as well as tissues from uninfected sturgeon. The assay possessed high clinical specificity (100%) and clinical sensitivity (74%) in detecting V. botryosa DNA in splenic tissues from laboratory-infected sturgeon. Using V. botryosa genomic DNA as a template, the limit of detection was equivalent to 10 conidia, and the method was found suitable for the detection of fungal DNA in fresh and formalin-fixed tissues. In addition, the presence of non-target DNA from white sturgeon did not influence assay sensitivity. The developed qPCR assay is a sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic method for the detection and quantification of V. botryosa DNA from white sturgeon tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Yazdi
- Department of Medicine & Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616-5270, USA
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Stilwell JM, Camus AC, Leary JH, Khoo LH, Griffin MJ. Pathologic Changes Associated with Respiratory Compromise and Morbidity Due to Massive Interlamellar Henneguya exilis Infection in Channel × Blue Hybrid Catfish. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/19-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Stilwell
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Alvin C. Camus
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - John H. Leary
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Lester H. Khoo
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 127 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, Missis
| | - Matt J. Griffin
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 127 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, Missis
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Rosser TG, Khoo LH, Wise DJ, Mischke CC, Greenway TE, Alberson NR, Reichley SR, Woodyard ET, Steadman J, Ware C, Pote LM, Griffin MJ. Arrested Development of Henneguya ictaluri (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) in ♀ Channel Catfish × ♂ Blue Catfish Hybrids. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2019; 31:201-213. [PMID: 30941825 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Henneguya ictaluri is the etiologic agent of proliferative gill disease (PGD) in farm-raised Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid catfish in the southeastern United States, and significant annual losses are attributed to this disease. Research suggests that H. ictaluri infection dynamics in Blue Catfish I. furcatus and hybrid catfish (Channel Catfish × Blue Catfish) differ from those in Channel Catfish. Two separate infectivity trials were conducted to investigate H. ictaluri development in Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and their hybrids. On two separate occasions with two different year-classes, fish were exposed to pond water containing H. ictaluri actinospores and sampled weekly for 12 weeks (trial 1) or 14 weeks (trial 2). In trial 1, the presence of H. ictaluri was evaluated histologically and by quantitative PCR of fish tissues, including gills, blood, anterior kidney, brain, heart, liver, posterior kidney, spleen, and stomach. Henneguya ictaluri DNA was detected in significantly higher concentrations throughout multiple organ systems in the Channel Catfish compared to the hybrid catfish and Blue Catfish, with the gills having higher quantities. Myxospores were observed in Channel Catfish gill tissue at 8 weeks postexposure. No myxospores were observed in Blue Catfish or hybrid catfish. The second trial focused on gills only and yielded similar results, with Channel Catfish having significantly greater H. ictaluri DNA quantities than hybrids or Blue Catfish across all time points. Myxospores were observed in Channel Catfish beginning at 6 weeks postexposure and were found in 36% (58/162) of Channel Catfish sampled for molecular and histological analysis during weeks 6-14. Myxospores in hybrid catfish were sparse, with single pseudocysts observed in two hybrid catfish (1.2%) at 14 weeks postexposure. These results imply arrested development of H. ictaluri in hybrid catfish. As such, culture of hybrid catfish may be an effective management strategy to minimize the burden of PGD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Rosser
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Lester H Khoo
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - David J Wise
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Delta Research and Extension Center, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - Charles C Mischke
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Delta Research and Extension Center, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - Terrence E Greenway
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Delta Research and Extension Center, Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - Neely R Alberson
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | | | - Ethan T Woodyard
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - James Steadman
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - Cynthia Ware
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
| | - Linda M Pote
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Matt J Griffin
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, Mississippi, 38776, USA
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Banajee KH, Gaunt PS, Khoo L, Gaunt SD. Pathology in practice. Henneguya infection. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015; 246:1193-5. [PMID: 25970215 DOI: 10.2460/javma.246.11.1193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaikhushroo H Banajee
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
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Understanding myxozoan infection dynamics in the sea: Seasonality and transmission of Ceratomyxa puntazzi. Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:771-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Griffin MJ, Goodwin AE, Merry GE, Liles MR, Williams MA, Ware C, Waldbieser GC. Rapid quantitative detection of Aeromonas hydrophila strains associated with disease outbreaks in catfish aquaculture. J Vet Diagn Invest 2013; 25:473-81. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638713494210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A new strain of Aeromonas hydrophila has been implicated in significant losses in farm-raised catfish. Outbreaks attributable to this new strain began in Alabama in the summer of 2009 and have spread to Arkansas and Mississippi in subsequent years. These outbreaks mostly afflicted market-sized fish and resulted in considerable losses in short periods of time. The present research was designed to develop an expeditious diagnostic procedure to detect the new strains of A. hydrophila due to the rapid onset and biosecurity concerns associated with this new disease. A discriminatory quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was developed using gene sequences unique to the virulent strains identified in a related comparative genomic study. Using this assay, suspect colonies on a culture plate can be positively identified as the new strain within 2 hr. The assay is repeatable and reproducible with a linear dynamic range covering 8 orders of magnitude and a sensitivity of approximately 7 copies of target DNA in a 15-µl reaction. In addition, the assay is able to detect and quantify the virulent strain from catfish tissues (0.025 g), pond water (40 ml), and sediments (0.25 g) with a sensitivity limit of approximately 100 bacteria in a sample. This assay provides rapid discrimination between the new virulent strain and more common A. hydrophila and is useful for epidemiological studies involving the detection and quantification of the virulent strain in environmental samples and fish tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt J. Griffin
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Andrew E. Goodwin
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Gwenn E. Merry
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Mark R. Liles
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Malachi A. Williams
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Cynthia Ware
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
| | - Geoffrey C. Waldbieser
- Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University (Griffin, Ware)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Catfish Genetics Research Unit (Waldbieser)
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Stoneville, MS; the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR (Goodwin, Merry)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL (Liles, Williams)
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Lovy J, Goodwin AE, Speare DJ, Wadowska DW, Wright GM. Histochemical and ultrastructural analysis of pathology and cell responses in gills of channel catfish affected with proliferative gill disease. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2011; 94:125-134. [PMID: 21648241 DOI: 10.3354/dao02322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Pond-reared channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus with proliferative gill disease (PGD), caused by the myxozoan parasite Henneguya spp., were examined with light and transmission electron microscopy to better characterize the inflammatory response during infection. The early stages of disease are characterized by the destruction of collagen in the matrix of the gill filament cartilage causing weakness and breaks within the gill filaments. These early lesions lacked a notable inflammatory response around the disrupted cartilage, a chondrocyte response was not apparent, and the parasite was not present, suggesting that the cartilage breaks occur prior to inflammation and arrival of the parasite in the gill. In later lesions, a significant inflammatory response was generated in areas of disrupted cartilage, and the inflammatory infiltrate was composed of a mixed population of granulocytes including neutrophils and cells that resembled eosinophils. The majority of eosinophil-like cells demonstrated evidence of degranulation. Trophozoites of Henneguya spp. were surrounded by a uniform population of cells believed to be neutrophils. The granulocytes were infiltrated within the dense collagen layer of the gill filament cartilage and often appeared within chondrocyte lacunae in place of the chondrocyte. The gill lamellae adjacent to the lesions were fused and contained an inflammatory infiltrate containing granulocytes and cells with pericentriolar granules that resembled previous descriptions of Langerhans-like cells. These cells were abundant within damaged lamellar epithelium, but were only rarely found within the gill filament. Lesions that appeared to be recovering lacked the dense collagenous layer around the cartilage and contained hyperplastic and hypertrophic chondrocytes that formed a callus. Other chondrocytes in the lesions had ultrastructural features indicative of cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lovy
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, Aquatic Animal Health Unit, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9T 6N7, Canada.
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Griffin MJ, Camus AC, Wise DJ, Greenway TE, Mauel MJ, Pote LM. Variation in susceptibility to Henneguya ictaluri infection by two species of catfish and their hybrid cross. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2010; 22:21-35. [PMID: 20575362 DOI: 10.1577/h09-030.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Proliferative gill disease (PGD) in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus is caused by the myxozoan parasite Henneguya ictaluri. There is no effective treatment for PGD, and mortalities can exceed 50% in severe outbreaks. One approach to controlling losses would be to utilize a less susceptible ictalurid species in pond culture; alternatively, one could identify the traits that convey resistance and exploit them in a selective breeding program. Challenge studies have found less severe inflammatory responses in the gill tissue of blue catfish I. furcatus and fewer mortalities than in channel catfish. However, it remains unclear whether infection and subsequent plasmodial development progress the same way in the two species. To investigate this, we compared the dynamics of H. ictaluri infection in blue catfish, channel catfish, and channel catfish x blue catfish hybrids in continuous long-term (5-7-d) and short-term (24-h) pond challenges. After long-term challenge, 66.2% of the channel catfish and 63.6% of the hybrid catfish developed characteristic PGD lesions, compared with 3.7% of the blue catfish. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis detected H. ictaluri in larger percentages of channel and hybrid catfish than blue catfish (98.7% and 95.7% versus 45.9%), with significantly greater parasite DNA equivalents in channel and hybrid catfish than blue catfish. Similar findings were obtained in the short-term exposures. Histologically, channel and hybrid catfish developed severe PGD accompanied by large numbers of developing plasmodia. While mild PGD was observed in some blue catfish, the progression of lesions lagged behind that in channel and hybrid catfish. Most importantly, developing plasmodia were not observed in blue catfish, and parasite DNA was not detected 14 d after removal from the source of infection. Our findings indicate that the resistance of blue catfish to H. ictaluri infection can be overcome by large numbers of infective actinospores but that infection appears to be eliminated before plasmodial development occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt J Griffin
- Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Box 197, Stoneville, Mississippi 38776, USA
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