Lesional patterns associated with mycobacteriosis in an Atlantic horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus (L.), aquarium population (original) (raw)

2013, Journal of Fish Diseases

AI-generated Abstract

Mycobacteria are ubiquitous bacteria in the environment, particularly in aquatic reservoirs. They are responsible for a chronic or acute systemic granulomatous disease, named mycobacteriosis, which occurs in wild, aquarium and culture fish. Three Mycobacterium spp. have dominated the literature on fish diseases: Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium chelonae. Generally, mycobacteriosis in fish displays granulomas produced in multiple organs or tissues, although chronic disease may not produce clinical signs. The objectives of this work were to provide a detailed description and prevalence of lesions compatible with mycobacteriosis infections in an aquarium Atlantic horse mackerel population and identify the aetiological agents isolated from different lesions. A complete necropsy was performed, and samples from eyes, gills, heart, stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, kidney and coelomic fat were collected from 103 fish. Histopathological analysis was used to assess the presence of granulomatous lesions. The findings revealed the presence of various types of mycobacterial granulomas in internal organs of the Atlantic horse mackerel, thus highlighting the impact of mycobacteriosis in this species.