Characterization of Weissella ceti infections in Brazilian rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), farms and development of an oil-adjuvanted vaccine.

Weissella ceti is an emerging bacterial pathogen that affects rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), farms. The aims of this study were to genotype W. ceti strains isolated from distinct geographical origins and to determine the efficacy of an oil-adjuvanted vaccine against the disease. Between 2010 and 2012, outbreaks were recorded in five Brazilian farms, and 34 W. ceti isolates were genetically characterized by repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Two different W. ceti vaccines were tested: an aqueous-based whole-cell inactivated vaccine (bacterin) and oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Their efficacy was evaluated in rainbow trout at 30 and 60 days post-vaccination (d.p.v.). W. ceti was found to be a highly homogeneous population in Brazil, with clonally related genotypes. Oil-adjuvanted vaccine exhibited the best (P < 0.05) protection against disease, reaching relative percentage survival (RPS)values of 92% at 30 and 60 d.p.v. Bacterin resulted in RPS values of 67% and 58% at day 30 and 60, respectively. The oil-adjuvanted vaccine provided effective protection against W. ceti infection in rainbow trout.

Outbreaks and genetic diversity of Francisella noatunensis subsp orientalis isolated from farm-raised Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Brazil.

Francisella noatunensis subsp orientalis (FNO) is an emerging pathogen of warm water tilapia in a number of different countries. The disease caused by this bacterium in fish is characterized by a systemic granulomatous infection that causes high mortality rates during outbreaks. FNO has been previously described in Asia, Europe, and Central and North America. Its occurrence in South America has never been described. Since 2012, outbreaks of a granulomatous disease have been recorded in cage farms of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) in Brazil. The current study aimed to identify the etiologic agent of recent francisellosis outbreaks at Brazilian tilapia farms, and to characterize the genetic diversity of the pathogen from farms with distinct geographic origins and without epidemiological connections. Bacteriological analysis of 44 diseased Nile tilapia collected from five cage farms in Brazil was performed during 2012 and 2013. The farms were in different locations and had no recent history of animal or biological material transport between each other. Sixty-two FNO isolates were identified on the basis of FNO-specific qPCR. The main predisposing factors for the occurrence of outbreaks on Brazilian farms were lower water temperature (<22°C) and life stage of fish, affecting mainly fry, fingerlings and young adults (live weight <100 g). The genetic diversity of the Brazilian FNO isolates was evaluated using repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR. The isolates from different origins were shown to be clonally related. This is the first report of the occurrence and genetic diversity of FNO in South America.

Comparative analysis of conventional PCR and real-time PCR to diagnose shrimp WSD

The aims of this study were to standard and optimize a qPCR protocol with FAM-BHQ1 probe, and to compare its sensitivity against TaqMan qPCR and PCR methods to diagnose shrimp WSD. The FAM-BHQ1 qPCR presented higher clinical sensitivity and showed to be a robust alternative to detect WSSV in clinical samples.

Streptococcus iniae outbreaks in Brazilian Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L: ) farms

This is the first report of outbreaks of Streptococcus iniae in Nile tilapia farms in South America. Seven isolates were identified by biochemical, serological and molecular tests. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 100% similarity with S. iniae ATCC 29178 and two distinct PFGE patterns were observed for Brazilian isolates.

Antibacterial activity of plant extracts from Brazil against fish pathogenic bacteria / Atividade antibacteriana de extratos de plantas do Brasil contra bactérias patogênicas para peixes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Brazilian plants extracts against fish pathogenic bacteria. Forty six methanolic extracts were screened to identify their antibacterial properties against Streptococcus agalactiae, Flavobacterium columnare and Aeromonas hydrophila. Thirty one extracts showed antibacterial activity.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antibacteriana de extratos de plantas brasileiras contra bactérias patogênicas para peixes. A atividade antibacteriana de quarenta e seis extratos metanólicos de plantas foi avaliada contra os agentes Streptococcus agalactiae, Flavobacterium columnare e Aeromonas hydrophila. Trinta e um extratos apresentaram atividade antibacteriana.

Perfil de susceptibilidade a antimicrobianos de bactérias isoladas em diferentes sistemas de cultivo de tilápia-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) / Profile of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial populations recovered from different Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) culture systems

Caracterizaram-se as populações bacterianas isoladas de três sistemas de cultivo de tilápias, sem utilização prévia de antimicrobianos. No sistema 1 usou-se tanque de alvenaria com arraçoamento, no sistema 2, tanque de terra com arraçoamento e no sistema 3, tanque de terra com adubação orgânica. Posteriormente, foi verificado o perfil qualitativo de resistência a antimicrobianos de 98 amostras bacterianas. Membros da família Vibrionaceae predominaram nos três sistemas analisados. Observou-se elevado número de bactérias resistentes principalmente à ampicilina e à eritromicina. Bactérias resistentes à norfloxacina e à gentamicina não foram freqüentes e cerca de 50 por cento das amostras dos isolados bacterianos foram resistentes à tetraciclina. Dentre as amostras testadas, 96 por cento apresentaram resistência simultânea a dois ou mais antimicrobianos (MAR>0,2). O índice MAR médio para os três sistemas de criação foi 0,4, e foram mesmo considerados fontes de risco para disseminação de bactérias resistentes

Bacterial populations from different tilapia culture system with no antimicrobial use were characterized. Concret pond and commercial feed, land pond and commercial feed, and land pond and animal manure were used in systems I, II and III, respectively. Ninety-eight bacterial strains were subjected to sensitivity testing. Members of Vibrionaceae were the most prevalent in all systems analysed. The most bacterial strains were resistant to ampicillin and erithromicin, but resistance to norfloxacin and gentamicin were uncommon. A half to bacterial isolates was resistant to tetracycline. From the 98 bacterial isolates, 96 percent were resistant to two or more antimicrobials. The multiple antimicrobial resistance index was determined and it was similar for all systems analyzed (Mar= 0.4), indicating a high risk source for multiple antibiotic resistance