PUBLICATION

Outcome of co-infection with opportunistic and multidrug resistant Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii in zebrafish: Identification, characterization, pathogenicity and immune responses

Authors
Chandrarathna, H.P.S.U., Nikapitiya, C., Dananjaya, S.H.S., Wijerathne, C.U.B., Wimalasena, S.H.M.P., Kwon, H.J., Heo, G.J., Lee, J., De Zoysa, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-180703-9
Date
2018
Source
Fish & shellfish immunology   80: 573-581 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii, Co-infection, Immune responses, Multidrug resistant bacteria, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Aeromonas*/drug effects
  • Aeromonas*/genetics
  • Aeromonas*/pathogenicity
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
  • Coinfection*/genetics
  • Coinfection*/immunology
  • Coinfection*/veterinary
  • Cytokines/genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Fish Diseases*/genetics
  • Fish Diseases*/immunology
  • Fish Diseases*/pathology
  • Fish Proteins/genetics
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections*/genetics
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections*/immunology
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections*/pathology
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections*/veterinary
  • Kidney/pathology
  • Liver/pathology
  • Muscles/pathology
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
  • Virulence/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/immunology
  • Zebrafish*/microbiology
PubMed
29964197 Full text @ Fish Shellfish Immunol.
Abstract
Fish can be potentially co-infected by two or more bacterial strains, which can make synergistic influence on the virulence of infection. In this study, two opportunistic and multidrug resistant Aeromonas strains were isolated from wounds of morbid zebrafish with typical deep skin lesions similar to Motile Aeromonas Septicemia. Isolates were genetically identified as A. hydrophila and A. veronii by 16 S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Both isolates were positive for virulent genes (aer A, lip, ser, exu gcaT) and selected phenotypic tests (DNase, protease, gelatinase, lipase, biofilm production and β-haemolysis). A. hydrophila and A. veronii had strong antibiotic resistance against ampicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, kanamycin, erythromycin, clindamycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Histopathological studies revealed that co-infection causes severe necrosis and hypertrophy in the muscles, kidney and liver of zebrafish. Naturally co-infected zebrafish showed highly induced tnf-α, il-1β, il-6, il-12, ifn, ifn-γ, cxcl18 b and ccl34a.4 at transcription level compared to healthy fish, suggesting virulence factors may activate immune and inflammatory responses of zebrafish. Experimentally infected zebrafish showed significantly higher mortality under co-infection with A. hydrohila and A. veronii (87%), followed by individual challenge of A. hydrophila (72%) or A. veronii (67%) suggesting that virulence of A. hydrophila have greater pathogenicity than A. veronii during co-infection.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping