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Mandrioli L, Codotto V, D’Annunzio G, Volpe E, Errani F, Eishi Y, Uchida K, Morini M, Sarli G, Ciulli S. Pathological and Tissue-Based Molecular Investigation of Granulomas in Cichlids Reared as Ornamental Fish. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111366. [PMID: 35681830 PMCID: PMC9179505 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The global ornamental fish trade has an estimated value of USD 15–30 billion per year and more than a 10% average annual growth. Despite their economic importance, the management of ornamental fish is challenged by a paucity of information, including data on the fish health status. Pathological and microbiological investigations were conducted on ornamental cichlids sampled during routine management activities held at an aquarium commercial facility, in order to evaluate the presence of granuloma in the organs. Cutibacterium acnes and Mycobacterium spp. were detected by molecular methods and immunohistochemistry. These bacteria represent potential zoonotic agents, and the advancement of their knowledge could significantly improve the management of ornamental fish and reduce the risk of exposure for people, such as hobbyists, fish handlers, aquarists, and dedicated personnel. Abstract Cichlids include hundreds of species with a high economic value for aquaculture. These fish are subjected to intensive trade and farming that expose them to the risk of infectious diseases. This work focuses on ornamental cichlids held in an aquarium commercial facility presenting emaciation, in order to evaluate the presence of lesions in fish skin and organs. The fish were sampled during routine management activities and subjected to pathological and molecular investigations. The presence of lymphocystis disease virus, typically associated with cutaneous nodular disease, was ruled out. Histologically, they presented granulomas in the spleen, sometimes extending to the other visceral organs. Bacterial heat-shock protein 65 PCR products were detected in tissues associated, in the majority of cases, with granulomas; molecular investigation identified Mycobacterium spp. in two cases and Cutibacterium acnes in seven cases. Immunoreactivity to anti-Mycobacterium and anti-C. acnes antibodies was detected within granulomas. The presence of C. acnes within granuloma is elucidated for the first time in fish; however, similarly to what is found in humans, this bacterium could be harmless in normal conditions, whereas other contributing factors would be required to trigger a granulomatogenous response. Further confirmation by bacterial culture, as well as using large-scale studies in more controlled situations, is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Mandrioli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-051-207972
| | - Victorio Codotto
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Giulia D’Annunzio
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Enrico Volpe
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Francesca Errani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Yoshinobu Eishi
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima 1-5-45, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan; (Y.E.); (K.U.)
| | - Keisuke Uchida
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima 1-5-45, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan; (Y.E.); (K.U.)
| | - Maria Morini
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Sarli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Sara Ciulli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.C.); (G.D.); (E.V.); (F.E.); (M.M.); (G.S.); (S.C.)
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Chang CH, Poudyal S, Pulpipat T, Wang PC, Chen SC. Pathological Manifestations of Francisella orientalis in the Green Texas Cichlid ( Herichthys cyanoguttatus). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082284. [PMID: 34438742 PMCID: PMC8388529 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The following study demonstrates the pathological manifestations of an emerging virulent bacterium, Francisella orientalis, in an ornamental cichlid fish, the green Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus). This study was conducted to prove that Francisella orientalis can cause a disease in the green Texas cichlid that is similar to natural infection. Francisella orientalis was discovered for the first time in green Texas cichlid by our team in Taiwan in 2015. The present study simply tried to prove the susceptibility of Francisella orientalis in green Texas cichlid by conducting a challenge experiment, where healthy fish were injected with a dose of the bacteria. After the challenge, the healthy fish showed the same disease progression as was seen in the case of natural outbreak. The mortality rate, clinical symptoms, gross findings, and histopathological findings were similar to natural infection. Francisella orientalis could also be recovered in artificial media from challenged fish, thus indicating that the bacteria had multiplied inside the fish. These findings prove that green Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) is susceptible to Francisela orientalis, and new management and vaccination strategies are necessary in the farming of this fish. This study also helps by adding to the knowledge of the growing host base for Francisella orientalis. Abstract Francisella orientalis (Fo) is considered to be one of the major pathogens of tilapia because of the high mortalities observed during outbreaks. Other cichlids belonging to the same family (Cichlidae) as tilapia are also quite susceptible to this pathogen. On various occasions, Fo has also been isolated from other warm water fish, including three-line grunt, hybrid striped bass, French grunt, Caesar grunt, and Indo-Pacific reef fish. However, only a few studies have reported the pathogenicity of Francisella orientalis in ornamental cichlid fish. This study fulfills Koch’s postulates by showing that a strain of Fo obtained from green Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) was able to produce the same pathogenicity in healthy fish. A mortality of 100% was observed after healthy green Texas cichlid were experimentally injected with Fo at a dose of 8.95 × 105 CFU/fish. DNA extracted from the organs of predilection (spleen, head kidney) gave positive results by PCR for all fish that died during the experimental period. Spleen and head kidney presented with multifocal white nodules in the affected fish, corresponding to typical vacuolated granulomas on histopathological examination of the tissues. Based on the results of this study, it is evident that Fo can indeed infect green Texas cichlid and produce a disease typical of francisellosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan;
| | - Sayuj Poudyal
- International Degree Program of Ornamental Fish Technology and Aquatic Animal Health, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan;
| | - Theeraporn Pulpipat
- Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand;
| | - Pei-Chi Wang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan;
- Southern Taiwan Fish Diseases Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
- Research Center for Fish Vaccine and Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (P.-C.W.); (S.-C.C.); Tel.: +886-8-7740569 (P.-C.W. & S.-C.C.)
| | - Shih-Chu Chen
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan;
- International Degree Program of Ornamental Fish Technology and Aquatic Animal Health, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan;
- Southern Taiwan Fish Diseases Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
- Research Center for Fish Vaccine and Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
- Research Center for Animal Biologics, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (P.-C.W.); (S.-C.C.); Tel.: +886-8-7740569 (P.-C.W. & S.-C.C.)
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