Limited Probiotic Effect of Enterococcus gallinarum L1, Vagococcus fluvialis L21 and Lactobacillus plantarum CLFP3 to Protect Rainbow Trout against Saprolegniosis.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the strains Enterococcus gallinarum L1, Vagococcus fluvialis L21 and Lactobacillus plantarum CLFP3 are probiotics against vibriosis or lactococosis in sea bass or rainbow trout. In this study, the utility of these bacterial strains in the control of saprolegniosis was evaluated. For this purpose, both in vitro inhibition studies and competition for binding sites against Saprolegnia parasitica and in vivo tests with experimentally infected rainbow trout were carried out. In the in vitro tests, the three isolates showed inhibitory activity upon mycelium growth and cyst germination and reduced the adhesion of cysts to cutaneous mucus; however, this effect depended on the number of bacteria used and the incubation time. In the in vivo test, the bacteria were administered orally at 108 CFU g-1 in the feed or at 106 CFU ml-1 in the tank water for 14 days. None of the three bacteria showed protection against S. parasitica infection either through water or feed, and the cumulative mortality reached 100% within 14 days post infection. The obtained results show that the use of an effective probiotic against a certain disease in a host may not be effective against another pathogen or in another host and that the results obtained in vitro may not always predict the effects when used in vivo.

In vitro activity of essential oils against microbial isolates from otitis externa cases in dogs.

Despite the number of studies focused on the potential use of essential oils (EOs) as an alternative to conventional treatments of canine external otitis, there is controversy about their antimicrobial activity which could be explained by differences in technical or biological aspects. This study focuses on the antimicrobial activity of three single EO compounds (thymol, cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol) and two EOs (clove and oregano) against clinical isolates recovered from canine otitis externa cases (14 bacterial isolates belonging to five different genera and six Malassezia pachydermatis isolates). All compounds showed activity and cinnamaldehyde exhibited the highest bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The susceptibility was lower among bacterial isolates than fungal isolates, being this difference more evident for Gram-positive bacteria. No relationship between antibiotic multi-resistant profile and susceptibility to compounds was observed. To sum up, our results provide appropriate information about appropriate concentrations of promising candidates for the topic treatment of canine otitis.

Possible Mechanisms of Action of Two Pseudomonas fluorescens Isolates as Probiotics on Saprolegniosis Control in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum).

Probiotics have been proposed as one of the alternatives to the chemical treatments currently used in aquaculture. Recently, the possible usefulness of certain microorganisms, mainly bacteria, has been highlighted as a potential biocontrol for saprolegniosis. In the present work we investigated the possible mechanisms of action of two isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens (LE89 and LE141) with proven ability to reduce Saprolegnia parasitica infection in rainbow trout under experimental conditions when they are added to the tank water. The stimulation of the innate immune response and the production of siderophores and bioactive substances inhibiting S. parasitica present in cells and supernatants of LE89 and LE141 were studied. Regarding the immune response the only noteworthy points were the increase in the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the concentration of serum proteins when LE141 was administered. Both bacteria produced siderophores. When analyzing the protein substances present in supernatants, it was observed that in both isolates the proteins with inhibitory activity present might be siderophores. In LE141, besides siderophores, a protein of 66 kDa was identified in the fraction responsible for inhibition. To sum up, the two P. fluorescens isolates might be usable for biocontrol of saprolegniosis and that the mode of action of these bacteria is likely to be related to the production of siderophores.

Distribution patterns of saprolegniosis cutaneous lesions in wild and farmed brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) obtained using a geographic information system (GIS).

A retrospective study was conducted using 250 clinical records of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) with saprolegniosis by Saprolegnia parasitica, which had been collected from 8 rivers and 1 fish farm in the province of León (Spain). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to obtain skin lesion distribution patterns in males and females. Lesions in wild brown trout affected 15.31 ± 13.33% of the body surface, with a mean of 12.76 ± 6.56 lesions per fish. In addition, 51.23% of wild trout presented lesions with necrosis of the skin or fins. The pattern obtained when not distinguishing between sexes indicated that saprolegniosis lesions are mainly located above the lateral line and most frequently affect the dorsal cephalic region, the adipose fin, the peduncle and the caudal fin. However, differences were observed between males and females. Farmed trout presented a lower percentage of affected body surface (2.06 ± 4.36) and a lower number of lesions with and without necrosis because they received preventive treatment for saprolegniosis.

Biocontrol of saprolegniosis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) using two bacterial isolates (LE89 and LE141) of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The probiotic activity of 15 bacterial isolates that inhibit Saprolegnia parasitica in vitro was tested for the biocontrol of saprolegniosis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum), adding the bacteria to tank water for 14 days at a concentration of 106 bacteria ml-1 water. Pseudomonas fluorescens LE89 and Pseudomonas fluorescens LE141 were effective in controlling experimental infection with S. parasitica since of the fish treated with LE89, 24.5% ± 16.27% (p < 0.05) became infected, as did 42.8% ± 8.41% (p < 0.05) of those treated with LE141. Given their protective effect when administered in water, their effect was also studied when administered in feed before and after experimental infection. Both bacterial isolates survived low pH levels and the action of bile, grew in skin and intestinal mucus, were resistant to several antibiotics and survived in feed; however, neither of the two isolates prevented S. parasitica infection when administered in feed.