PUBLICATION

Mycobacteriosis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) research facilities

Authors
Kent, M.L., Whipps, C.M., Matthews, J.L., Florio, D., Watral, V., Bishop-Stewart, J.K., Poort, M., and Bermudez, L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-041111-17
Date
2004
Source
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP   138(3): 383-390 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Bishop-Stewart, Janell, Kent, Michael, Matthews, Jennifer
Keywords
Mycobacterium abscessus; Mycobacterium chelonae; Mycobacterium septicum; Mycobacterium peregrinum; Mycobacterium haemophilum; Danio rerio; zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Laboratory/microbiology*
  • Fish Diseases/diagnosis
  • Fish Diseases/microbiology*
  • Fish Diseases/pathology
  • Laboratories*
  • Mycobacterium/classification
  • Mycobacterium/genetics
  • Mycobacterium/isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium Infections/diagnosis
  • Mycobacterium Infections/microbiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections/pathology
  • Mycobacterium Infections/veterinary*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
  • Time Factors
  • Zebrafish/microbiology*
PubMed
15533796 Full text @ Comp. Biochem. Physiol. C Toxicol. Pharmacol.
Abstract
The Zebrafish International Resource Center was established to support the zebrafish research community, and includes a diagnostic service. One of the most common diseases that we have diagnosed is mycobacteriosis, which represented 18% of the diagnostic cases submitted from November 1999 to June 2003. We describe here the severity of the disease and associated pathological changes of 24 diagnostic cases from 14 laboratories. Identifications of the bacteria are provided for seven of these cases. For two cases in which culture of the organism was not successful, these identifications were based on ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis obtained directly from infected tissues. Biochemical characteristics and rDNA sequence analysis from cultures are reported for the other isolates. Two severe outbreaks from different facilities on different continents were associated with an organism identified as Mycobacterium haemophilum based on rDNA sequence from tissues. Another severe outbreak was associated with an organism most closely related to Mycobacterium peregrinum. These species are recognized pathogens of humans, but this is the first report of them from fish. Bacteria identified as Mycobacterium chelonae or M. abscessus were recovered from fish in cases categorized as moderate disease or as an incidental finding. These findings indicate that species of Mycobacterium previously undescribed from fish (i.e., M. haemophilum and M. peregrinum) may pose significant health problems in zebrafish research facilities, whereas species and strains that are already recognized as common in fish usually cause limited disease on a population basis in zebrafish.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping