Adherence, haemagglutination and cell surface characteristics of motile aeromonads virulent for fish

Abstract. Motile Aeromonas spp. virulent for fish were studied with regard to their adhesion profile. Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of fimbriae (pili) on Aeromonas cells regardless of virulence potential. The results show no significant correlations between ability to haemagglutinate, yeast cell co-agglutination and virulence. All strains expressed mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin activity against guinea pig erythrocytes. Using four types of red blood cells no characteristic haemagglutinin pattern related to virulence could be discerned. Expression of surface haemagglutin(s) on Aeromonas hydrophila appears to be medium dependent; strains grown in liquid media demonstrated enhanced haemagglutination activity. Both virulent and avirulent strains had in vitro epithelial cell adhesive capabilities. Cell surface characteristics measured by agglutination in acriflavine and stability after boiling indicated that most virulent strains agglutinated in the presence of acriflavine, but not all sedimented after boiling. The ability of 10 selected strains of A hydrophila to grow in normal pooled catfish serum was determined. Only 17% of the virulence variations can be explained by their sensitivity to serum.     

Aeromonas hydrophila B-haemolysin: purification and examination of its role in virulence in 0-group channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Abstract. A single step procedure for purification of B-haemolysin from Aeromonas hydrophila is described which recovered 94% of the haemolytic activity with a sixfold increase in specific activity. Toxicity of haemolysin in 0-group channel catfish was 0–6 mg of purified protein per gram offish. Of six strains of A. hydrophila evaluated for differential toxin production and virulence in 0-group channel catfish, three B-haemolysin-deficient strains were virulent while three B-haemolysin-producing strains were avirulent.     

Aerococcus viridans expression of Cpn60 is associated with virulence during infection of the American lobster, Homarus americanus Milne Edwards

The Gram-positive bacterium Aerococcus viridans var. homari is a well-documented causative agent of the lethal systemic disease gaffkemia in both the American lobster, Homarus americanus, and the European lobster, Homarus gammarus. Previous phenotypic characterization has been unsuccessful at differentiating avirulent from virulent strains without performing lethal animal infection trials. Recent genetic characterization of A. viridans strains through 16S rRNA sequencing and random amplification of polymorphic DNA fingerprinting has revealed the presence of two subtypes. However, subtype 1 contains both virulent and avirulent strains which are genetically identical. The purpose of this study was to determine the proteomic mediators of virulence in A. viridans. Quantitative proteomic mapping of these two strains has revealed 29 differentially expressed protein spots, seven of which are only expressed in the virulent strain and could act as virulence factors. One protein, chaperonin 60 (Cpn60), is uniquely expressed in the virulent strain and has been shown to act as a virulence factor in many other bacteria. The proteomic mapping strategy employed in this study is the first to show phenotypic differences between virulent and avirulent strains. Cpn60 expression represents a potentially useful tool for identifying the virulent strains of A. viridans in epidemiological studies.     

Pathogenicity of Edwardsiella tarda to olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (Temminck & Schlegel)

The LD50 and cytotoxic and enzymatic activities of both cells and extracellular products (ECPs) of eight Edwardsiella tarda strains were determined and their bacterial superoxide dismutase gene (sodB) and catalase gene (katB) were sequenced. Strains were also examined for their ability to resist the immune responses of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. LD50 values of strains (FSW910410, KE1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) in olive flounder ranged between 10(2.5) and 10(5.3) cfu (colony forming units) per fish. Unlike the avirulent strain SU100 (LD50>or=10(7)), all pathogenic strains were able to survive in flounder serum and head kidney leucocytes (except for KE2). The virulent strains possessed type I sodB and katB, whereas SU100 had type II sodB but not katB. However, there was no difference between avirulent and virulent strains in haemolytic and cytotoxic activities. The results of this study demonstrated that the ability of E. tarda to resist complement activity and phagocytosis is conferred by its superoxide dismutase and catalase, which thus play an essential role in the pathogenicity of this bacterium. In addition genotyping of sodB and kat B proved to be a very useful tool to distinguish virulent from avirulent strains.     

Chemiluminescent responses of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), phagocytes to strains of Yersinia ruckeri

Abstract. Seventeen strains of Yersinia ruckeri were examined for plasmid DNA by means of agarose gel electrophoresis of partially cleared lysates. All 10 serotype I strains examined contained a 70 Megadalton (Mdal) plasmid, whereas only one of the 7 serotype II strains examined contained a plasmid of about 2–3 Mdal. Yersinia ruckeri exhibited distinctive colonial morphology and serological reactivities which suggested a possible correlation with plasmid content. The luminol-enhanced Chemiluminescent (CL) responses of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), phagocytes to different strains of Y. ruckeri were also studied. Some variability was observed; however, the greatest phagocyte CL responses were elicited by serotype II strains without the plasmid while serotype I strains harbouring the plasmid consistently elicited weak CL responses from phagocytes.     

日本鳗鲡败血腹水病病原研究

2000年3月中旬，自福建仙游某日本鳗鲡（Anguilla japonica)养殖场患败血腹水症的发病日本鳗鲡的肝脏及腹水处分离到四株细菌，经鉴定其中一株为迟钝爱德华氏菌（dwardsiella tarda)，一株温和气单胞菌（Aeromomas sobria)和两株嗜水气单胞菌（Aeromonas hydrophila)溶血试验，小鼠攻毒试验显示，上述四株细菌都有较强制 毒力，综合分析，上述菌株可能是引发这次日本幼鳗败血腹水病之病原菌。     

Immunodiagnosis of virulent strains of Aeromonas hydrophila associated with epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) using a monoclonal antibody

Abstract. A virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila associated with epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) was used to produce monoclonal antibodies that identified virulent strains of A. hydrophila. Antibodies from a clone, designated as F26P5C8, were found to identify the A. hydrophila serotype I isolates associated with EUS fish, and which were found to be virulent after subsequent inoculation studies. Immunodiagnosis of a large number of A. hydrophila from Australia and Japan showed some additional isolates to be identified by F26P5C8, but the status of their virulence is presently unknown.     

In vitro markers for virulence in Yersinia ruckeri

In this study, different traits that have been associated with bacterial virulence were studied in Yersinia ruckeri. Two isolates that had been shown to cause disease and mortality in experimentally infected rainbow trout were compared with five avirulent isolates. Both virulent isolates showed high adhesion to gill and intestinal mucus of rainbow trout, whereas the majority of non‐virulent strains demonstrated significantly lower adhesion. A decrease in adherence capability following bacterial treatment with sodium metaperiodate and proteolytic enzymes suggested the involvement of carbohydrates and proteins. All strains were able to adhere to and invade chinook salmon embryo cell line (CHSE‐214), fathead minnow epithelial cell line (FHM) and rainbow trout liver cell line (R1). One non‐virulent strain was highly adhesive and invasive in the three cell lines, whereas the virulent strains showed moderate adhesive and invasive capacity. The internalization of several isolates was inhibited by colchicine and cytochalasin‐D, suggesting that microtubules and microfilaments play a role. For all strains, intracellular survival assays showed a decrease of viable bacteria in the cells 6 h after inoculation, suggesting that Y. ruckeri is not able to multiply or survive inside cultured cells. Analysis of the susceptibility to the bactericidal effect of rainbow trout serum demonstrated that virulent Y. ruckeri strains were serum resistant, whereas non‐virulent strains were generally serum sensitive.     

致病性嗜水气单胞菌多重PCR检测方法的建立

致病性嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)是近年中国各地大规模流行的淡水养殖鱼类暴发性疾病的主要病原,本研究针对GenBank中登录的致病性嗜水气单胞菌的气溶素基因(hlyA)、溶血素基因(aerA)以及为气单胞菌属所特有的内参照基因16S rRNA保守区设计了3对特异性引物,通过进行多重PCR反应体系优化,多重PCR产物的测序鉴定与特异性和敏感性实验,试图建立一种检测致病性嗜水气单胞菌的多重PCR检测方法。对8株嗜水气单胞菌、16株相关菌株进行多重PCR检测,结果显示,非致病性分离株均未扩增出毒力基因hlyA和aerA,而致病性分离株则至少含有hlyA基因;对40份送检的水产动物样品进行多重PCR检测,结果与常规微生物学检测符合率为97.5%。多重PCR检测方法具有较高的敏感性与特异性,最低可检测模板量为10 ng的样品。该方法的建立对水产动物嗜水气单胞菌病的快速诊断和分子流行病学的调查有重要意义。     

豫北地区主要淡水鱼类感染嗜水气单胞菌的流行病学调查

对豫北地区嗜水气单胞菌引起的细菌性败血病进行流行病学调查,分离鉴定致病性嗜水气单胞菌菌株,并对致病性嗜水气单胞菌菌株进行毒力验证和药敏试验。采集4个养殖场病鱼标本及水样,每月进行流行病学调查,利用生理生化及分子生物学方法检测嗜水气单胞菌的分布状况。结果显示,筛选出52株为嗜水气单胞菌,其中32株为致病性嗜水气单胞菌,20株为非致病性嗜水气单胞菌,且致病性嗜水气单胞菌主要分布在7—9月份,毒力验证试验表明,32株致病性菌株的毒力大小差异明显,筛选出强毒株XDMG(4),为后期试验的疫苗株做准备;药敏试验表明,不同菌株对同一种药物的药敏结果不同,但大部分药物的药敏结果基本一致,70%以上的致病性菌株对头孢哌酮、氟本尼考、菌必治、阿米卡星等抗菌药物表现为高度敏感,对青霉素类药物表现为高度耐药性,耐药率达100%,对氨基糖苷类(不包括阿米卡星)、磺胺类、四环素等药物呈现不同程度的耐药性,具有多重耐药性。本试验旨在丰富本地区的鱼类细菌性败血病的病原资料,并为该菌引起的人类疾病的防控提供科学依据。     

Comparative in vitro studies on virulent and avirulent strains of Cryptobia salmositica (Sarcomastigophora: Kinetoplastida)

Abstract. The optimum temperature for in vitro multiplication of Cryptobia salmositica was 10°C. The avirulent strain multiplied more rapidly than the virulent strain. The haemolytic components, lytic component (LC) and immune complex-forming component (ICC), were secreted by the two strains into the culture medium and were detectable from one week post-inoculation. The haemolytic activity in the supernatant increased with increasing parasite numbers in both strains. Although cultures of the avirulent strain had higher parasite numbers than those of the virulent strain, the haemolytic activity was significantly lower than that of the virulent strain. Antiserum against ICC was produced in rabbit by immunization with ICC-coated rainbow trout red blood cells.     

Cell membrane glycoconjugates on virulent and avirulent strains of the haemoflagellate Cryptobia salmositica (Kinetoplastida)

The glycoconjugates on the cell membranes of Cryptobia salmositica (virulent and avirulent strains) were analysed using 13 highly purified lectins. The virulent strain of C. salmositica was agglutinated by two of these lectins (Concanavalin A (Con A) Canavalia ensiformis , specific for α-mannose and α- D -glucosyl residues; Pisum sativau agglutinin (PSA), specific for N-acetyl α- D -galactosaminyl) but the avirulent strain of C. salmositica was agglutinated by 11 lectins. No agglutination of C. salmositica (virulent and avirulent strains) was observed with lectin Tetragonolobus purpureas agglutinin (TPA, specific for α- L -fucose). Glycoprotein analysis with digoxigenin or biotin labelled lectins showed strain specific staining patterns for C. salmositica; with the avirulent strain showing stronger reactions than the virulent strain. These results indicate that the surface carbohydrate residues changed with attenuation of the pathogen and this change may be related to its loss of virulence.     

鱼源气单胞菌的毒力基因检测、分型及致病力

为调查鱼源气单胞菌毒力基因与其致病力的相关性,以2009—2018年从不同患病鱼分离的173株气单胞菌为研究对象,通过检测毒力相关基因、测定溶血活性、腹腔注射感染异育银鲫等方法开展评价。通过管家基因gyrB分子鉴定结果显示,173株气单胞菌中维氏气单胞菌(119/173,68.9%)和嗜水气单胞菌(50/173,28.9%)是主要流行的菌株。10个毒力基因aer(162/173,93.64%)、act(131/173,75.72%)、ast(55/173,31.79%)、alt(58/173,33.53%)、lip(152/173,87.86%)、exu(154/173,89.02%)、fla(143/173,82.66%)、gcaT(148/173, 85.55%)、 eprCAI(41/173, 23.70%)和ahyB(51/173, 29.48%)普遍存在于173株气单胞菌中。依据检测到的毒力基因数量从多到少分布情况,这些菌株可分为7大类(Ⅰ～Ⅶ)53个毒力基因型。大部分嗜水气单胞菌检测到8～10个毒力基因,主要分布于Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ类基因型;维氏气单胞菌的eprCAI、ahyB、 ast和alt等4个毒力基因检测率低,主要分布于Ⅳ、Ⅴ和Ⅵ类基因型。大部分气单胞菌(94.22%,163/173)具有溶血活性。代表性毒力基因型的38株维氏气单胞菌和20株嗜水气单胞菌腹腔注射异育银鲫攻毒结果显示,3.0×106 CFU/尾的剂量下,3株维氏气单胞菌使鲫死亡率达80%～100%,16株嗜水气单胞菌使鲫死亡率达90%～100%。研究表明,维氏气单胞菌是目前最主要流行的气单胞菌,但其检测到的毒力基因普遍少于嗜水气单胞菌,且对异育银鲫的致病力普遍弱于嗜水气单胞菌。本研究能够为气单胞菌败血症的流行病学调查和疫苗研究提供理论依据。     

南京地区某渔场嗜水气单胞菌流行菌株的鉴定及分子分型

为确定南京地区某渔场异育银鲫出血性败血症的病原体,采集该渔场3个饲养塘口患病鱼脏器进行细菌分离培养,基于气单胞菌DNA促旋酶B亚单位(gyr B)基因序列设计引物,PCR扩增后测序进行细菌鉴定;同时,对病原菌生物学特性如溶血性、蛋白酶活性、生物被膜形成能力、运动能力以及对斑马鱼的毒力等进行分析,并进行多位点序列分型(MLST)。结果在3个饲养塘口均分离到嗜水气单胞菌,分别命名为GL-15、GL-17和GL-18;MLST分型显示三株分离菌均为ST251型;生物学特性实验表明,均有溶血性、蛋白酶活性以及运动性,生物被膜形成能力较强,OD595均超过0.5,对斑马鱼的LD50在1.4×103~3.9×103 CFU/尾,属强毒株。本研究为有效防控南京地区嗜水气单胞菌引发的出血性败血症的暴发流行提供了依据。     

Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida

The ability of a set of Photobacterium damselae ssp. piscicida strains isolated from different fish species to produce different superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes was determined. Unlike other bacterial pathogens, P. damselae ssp. piscicida is not able to produce different isoforms of SOD or catalase containing different metal cofactors when cultured under oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide or methyl viologen, or under iron depleted conditions. However, iron content of the growth medium influenced the levels of SOD and catalase activity in cells, these levels decreasing with iron availability of the medium. Comparison of virulent and non-virulent strains of P. damselae ssp. piscicida showed similar contents of SOD, but higher levels of catalase were detected in cells of the virulent strain. Incubation of bacteria with sole, Solea senegalensis (Kaup), phagocytes has shown that survival rates range from 19% to 62%, these rates being higher for the virulent strain. The increased levels of catalase activity detected in the virulent strain indicates a possible role for this enzyme in bacterial survival.     

中华绒螯蟹嗜水气单胞菌微胶囊口服疫苗制备工艺及特性研究

以福尔马林灭活的中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)腹水病及抖抖病并发病病原菌嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)CL99920菌株为芯材和海藻酸钠为壁材,采用乳化法制备嗜水气单胞菌微胶囊口服疫苗.通过单因素试验和正交试验,研究了海藻酸钠浓度、乳化时间、搅拌速度和菌胶比例对嗜水气单胞菌...     

Immunogenicity of vaccines from a virulent and an a virulent strain of Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. Injected vaccines consisting of formalin-killed cells and extracellular antigens prepared from a virulent and an avirulent strain of Aeromonas salmonicida were tested for their efficacy in protecting juvenile coho salmon. Oncorhychus kisutch (Walbaum). Against experimental furunculosis following active and passive immunization. Sera used in the passive immunization experiments were raised in subadult coho salmon and in rabbits. Results indicated that the avirulent strain was inferior to the virulent strain in its immunogenicity for coho salmon. Thus, even though avirulent cells possessed at least one immunogen–an immunogen that was show in passive immunization experiments to be well recognized by rabbits–the immunogen was only inefficiently protection when vaccinated with avirulent cells. Furher, extracellular antigens of the avirulent strain were not protective for coho salmon even though they elicited the production of anti- A. salmonicida agglutinins. In contrast, the killed cells and extracellular antigens of the virulent strain were both immunogenic in coho salmon. By passively immunizing coho salmon with rabbit sera raised against the virulent and the virulent strain produced at least two immunogens, only one of which was shared in common with the avirulent strain. The extra immunogen possessed by the virulent strain is presumably responsible for its superior immunogenicity in coho salmon; the immunogen had the properties of a protein and is believed to be the A-protein.     

Serum resistance as a good indicator for virulence in Aeromonas hydrophila strains isolated from diseased fish in South-East Asia

Abstract. Aeromonas hydrophila strains isolated from diseased fish in South-East Asia were studied for their virulence in naive tilapia, Oreochrommis aureus (Steindachner), and blue gourami, Trichogaster trichopterus (Pallas). Five of the most virulent strains used in this study shared a common resistance to the killing effect of naive fish serum. Other factors such as lack of autoagglutination in 0.2% acriflavine, instability after boiling, production of an S-layer, and proteases and haemolysins did not correlate well with virulence. In addition, serotyping could not group all the virulent strains. Therefore, serum resistance is considered as a good indicator for screening virulence of A. hydrophila strains isolated from diseased fish in South-East Asia.     

In vitro inhibition of epithelial cell invasion by Aeromonashydrophila Vibrio species by fish Aeromonas hydrophila major adhesin

A virulent strain of Aeromonas hydrophila (PPD 134/91) was obtained from the Primary Production Department, Singapore. Its major adhesin was isolated and purified by potassium thiocyanate extraction and Bio-Gel P-100 gel filtration. The ability of the protein in peak 1, termed major adhesin, to inhibit bacteria from adhering to and invading host cells was studied in vitro using epithelioma papillosum cells of carp (EPC). Results showed that a concentration of 10 μg ml^–1 of this major adhesin could competitively inhibit 28% of A. hydrophila PPD 134/91 from invading EPC cells in vitro. When the concentration was increased to 40 μg ml^–1, the major adhesin significantly cross-inhibited nine other virulent or weakly virulent strains of A. hydrophila. In addition, the major adhesin significantly inhibited not only another bacterial strain from the same family, Aeromonas sobria, but also strains of Vibrio spp. tested. Therefore, we suggest that the major adhesin of this virulent A. hydrophila strain has the potential to be used as a vaccine against the heterogeneous Aeromonas and Vibrio species.     

Changes in the spleen of the channel catfish Ictalurus punetatus Rafinesque indueed by infection with Aeromonas hydrophila

Abstract. A virulent, 2,3-butanediol positive culture of Aeromonas hydrophila , subspecies hydrophila , was fed or injected intraperitoneally into channel catfish. The positive infection and tissue involvement were monitored by the 2,3-butanediol test with tissue homogenate enriched with a buffered nutrient broth containing dextrose. The results revealed that the fish infected orally showed very little or no spleen involvement. Fish infected intraperitoneally, however, showed spleen involvement in a very short time, accompanied by the rapid onset of an acute systemic infection.
Light and electron microscope studies of the spleen revealed that the pathogenic bacteria were mainly located within the reticular sheath of the ellipsoids and only sparsely in the surrounding regions, and that intense phagocytic activity of macro-phages had taken place in the ellipsoids. It was also observed that the phagocytized bacteria divide extracellularly, and probably intracellularly, resulting in the destruction of the endothelial and reticular cells of the ellipsoids. This finding substantiates the cytolytic and fibrolytic capacities of A. hydrophila for destroying host defence systems and may contribute to its invasive powers. Other cytological changes in cells in spleen after infection are described, and the resistance of A. hydrophila to intracellular enzymatic digestion by the macrophages is discussed.