Rapid identification of Streptococcus iniae by specific PCR assay utilizing genetic markers in ITS rDNA

The 16S-23S intergenic spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA from ten independent isolates of Streptococcus iniae and one reference strain ATCC29178 were sequenced, aligned and used to design a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer set for rapid and specific detection and identification of S. iniae. This primer set amplified a 377-bp DNA fragment specifically from S. iniae, but not from other common bacterial pathogens of fish or from non-fish pathogens. The PCR conditions were optimized to allow detection of the organism from agar, broth culture or infected fish tissue. The sensitivity of the PCR assay was established by the detection of DNA as low as 0.02 ng or as few as 10 CFU bacterial cells. The establishment of the specific PCR assay provides a useful tool for the identification and diagnosis of fish infection with S. iniae.     

Evaluation of the link between gyrodactylosis and streptococcosis of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

Streptococcus iniae and Gyrodactylus niloticus are two common pathogens of cultured Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. We studied concurrent infection of tilapia by G. niloticus and S. iniae and evaluated whether parasitism in tilapia with Gyrodactylus increased susceptibility and mortality following immersion infection with S. iniae. Results showed that death mainly occurred in fish with G. niloticus and challenged with S. iniae (G-S group). The accumulative mortality (42.2%) was significantly higher in the G-S group than in fish not infected by the parasite (6.7%), but exposed to S. iniae. Bacteriological examination revealed S. iniae from > or =92% of dead or moribund fish challenged with S. iniae. Gyrodactylus not only damaged fish epithelium and provided entry for invasive bacteria but also was found to harbour viable cells of S. iniae for 24 and 72 h. Streptococcus iniae was isolated from 60% and 40% of G. niloticus collected from fish infected by intraperitoneal injection or immersion, respectively, at 24 h post-challenge. The present study confirms that parasitism of tilapia by G. niloticus increased host mortality following exposure to the bacterial pathogen S. iniae.     

Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect five common Gram-negative bacteria of aquatic animals

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) technique was developed as a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool for identifying five major Gram-negative bacilli -Vibrio vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Chryseobacterium meningosepticum and Edwardsiella tarda- that cause major diseases in cultured aquatic animals in Taiwan. The expected amplicons for V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus, A. hydrophila, C. meningosepticum and E. tarda were 410, 368, 685, 180 and 230bp, respectively. The assay was shown to be specific for the target pathogens. The sensitivities of detection were estimated to be 20.5fg～200pg of genomic DNA or 10(2) ～10(4) colony-forming units (cfu) of bacterial isolates when adopted as PCR templates. The m-PCR was capable of simultaneously amplifying target fragments from bacterial genome DNA mixed with the DNA extracted from viscera and tissues taken from fish without affecting the performance of the method.     

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), with anti-Streptococcus iniae whole sera

Passive immunization of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted to determine whether anti- Streptococcus iniae whole sera (ASI), heat inactivated anti- S . iniae whole sera (HIASI) and normal whole sera (NWS) were protective when intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected into tilapia. The ASI was produced in tilapia actively immunized (challenged) with virulent S. iniae by i.p. injection. An antibody response against S. iniae was demonstrated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and 18% of the immunized fish died because of the S. iniae infection. The actively immunized tilapia demonstrated a secondary antibody response and immunity to S. iniae after challenge with S. iniae by i.p. injection. Survival was 100% in the actively immunized fish. The NWS was obtained from tilapia free of ASI antibody and susceptible to S. iniae infection (40% mortality). In two separate experiments, significantly higher mortality was noted in tilapia passively immunized with NWS (33 and 53%) and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (30 and 60%), in comparison with mortalities of 0 and 10% or 3.3 and 6.7% in the fish passively immunized with ASI or HIASI 14 days after S . iniae infection by i.p. injection ( P  = 0.0003 and 0.0023). Results suggest that immunity provided by ASI and HIASI was because of antibody against S. iniae . Inactivation of complement in the HIASI treatment further suggests that ASI antibody plays a primary role in immunity against S. iniae infection.     

发病鲆鲽类分离菌株的16S rRNA基因测序分析

细菌性疾病是中国海水养殖鲆鲽类的主要病害,为全面了解病原菌种类,本研究对1999~2012年从山东、江苏、河北、天津等沿海地区养殖场发病鲆鲽鱼类中分离得到的124株优势菌株进行了16S rRNA基因测序和系统发育学分析。将基因序列与GenBank核酸序列数据库进行相似度比对分析,结果显示,有83株与弧菌属(Vibriosp.)细菌相似度最高,11株与气单胞菌属(Aeromonas sp.)细菌相似度最高,4株与爱德华氏菌属(Edwardsiella sp.)细菌相似度最高,26株为其他15种属的细菌。根据系统发育学分析结果,进一步将66株菌鉴定为16个种,优势种为溶藻弧菌(V.alginolyticus)、哈氏弧菌(V.harveyi)、鳗弧菌(V.anguillarum)、杀鲑气单胞菌(A.salmonicida)和迟缓爱德华氏菌(E.tarda)。选择其中的9株鳗弧菌和4株迟缓爱德华氏菌进行人工感染实验,结果显示,其中7株鳗弧菌和3株迟缓爱德华氏菌对大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)有较强的致病性。研究结果可为阐明中国海水养殖鲆鲽类的流行病发生历史、病原种类、病原监测及疾病控制提供重要参考。     

斑点叉尾鮰TLR20和TLR21基因在不同细菌和病毒 感染后的表达特征

应用实时荧光定量PCR技术,检测了TLR20和TLR21基因在斑点叉尾鲴Ictalurus punctatus感染迟钝爱德华氏菌Edwardsiella tarda、链球菌Streptococcus iniae、嗜水气单胞菌Aeromonas hydrophila和斑点又尾鲴呼肠孤病毒（Channel Catfish Hemorrhage Reovirus,CCRV）后,在0、12、24、48、72h、7d,肝脏、头肾、脾脏、肠中的时空表达特征。结果显示,4种病原均能引起斑点叉尾鲴TLR20、TLR21基因在所测免疫相关组织中表达量的变化,但呈现出不同的表达模式：感染嗜水气单胞菌后这两种基因的表达差异巨大,而TLR21基因的表达变化不大,在肝脏和头肾中表达量仅在3倍以内变化。感染爱德华氏茵后,TLR20、TLR21两种基因的表达模式类似,在肝脏中表达量显著上调。链球菌引起肝脏TLR20表达量发生4360倍的变化,远远高于TLR21基因在同组织中的表达量（257．8倍）。斑点叉尾鲴呼肠孤病毒感染引起TLR20、TLR21两种基因在肝脏、头肾的上调表达,肠、脾脏的下调表达。以上结果表明了TLR20、TLR21在斑点叉尾鲴天然免疫应答中起重要作用,为研究鱼类疾病防御机制提供了理论参考。     

广东省养殖罗非鱼、海鲈、尖吻鲈海豚链球菌感染调查

利用细菌分离培养方法结合特异PCR技术,对广东省珠三角地区养殖罗非鱼(Oreochromis spp.)、海鲈(Lateolabrax japonicus)及尖吻鲈(Lates calcarifer)的海豚链球菌(Streptococcus iniae)感染情况进行了周年调查。每月固定时间在特定养殖区域采集目标鱼的脑、肝、脾、肾和肌肉等组织,并对其进行海豚链球菌的细菌分离培养鉴定。仅从已经患病的尖吻鲈中分离到3株链球菌,经生理生化鉴定和16S rDNA测序确定为海豚链球菌。利用海豚链球菌特异PCR技术对上述养殖鱼类不同组织进行检测,发现罗非鱼、海鲈、尖吻鲈的海豚链球菌感染率分别为30.21%、23.53%、14.55%,其中罗非鱼脑和肌肉的感染率明显较其他组织高(P<0.05),分别为20.65%和23.75%;海鲈的脑部和肌肉感染率也较其他组织高(P<0.05),分别为12.1%和10%;而尖吻鲈各组织感染率没有较大差异(P>0.05)。另外,研究结果还表明采集样本的海豚链球菌感染率随着其体长的增加而呈现下降趋势。     

Immune response, growth and survival of Labeo rohita fingerlings fed with levamisole supplemented diets for longer duration

The study was to determine the effect of long-term administration of different dosages of levamisole on growth, immune response and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila & Edwardsiella tarda in Labeo rohita fingerlings. Fish were fed with four different dosages of levamisole (0, 125, 250 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ diet) for 56 days. Different serum biochemical and haematological parameters such as serum total protein content, albumin content, globulin content, albumin/globulin ratio, glucose content, leucocytes count; cellular immune parameters including superoxide anion production, phagocytic activities, lymphokine production index; humoural immune parameters including lysozyme, complement and serum bactericidal activities were evaluated after 14 days interval. After 56 days, fish were divided into two subgroups under each treatment group for challenge with pathogens A. hydrophila and E. tarda . The cumulative mortality (%) and agglutinating antibody titre was recorded on 28th day postchallenge. WBC count, phagocytic ratio, lymphokine production index, lysozyme activity and serum bactericidal activity were increased upon administration of levamisole dosages for long term. However, the growth performance and survival against pathogens was not significantly changed over 56 days administration of levamisole. But incorporation of moderate dosage of levamisole for 42 days results better immune response without effect on growth and survival of L. rohita fingerlings.     

Blood and liver biopsy for the non‐destructive screening of tilapia lake virus

Detection of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) in tilapines is mainly from visceral organs of killed fish. However, lethal sampling might not be viable to broodstock and economically important ornamental cichlids. To contribute towards screening of the virus in asymptomatic infected fish, a subclinically infected population of Nile tilapia adults obtained from a local farm was preliminarily tested to compare different non‐lethal sampling methods, for example liver biopsy, gill biopsy, fin clip, mucus, faeces and blood for detection of TiLV. Only liver and blood samples gave positive results by PCR. Since blood sampling is relatively simpler, it was further used for five naturally co‐cultured juvenile fish species from above‐mentioned farm including 40 red tilapia broodstock and 20 Nile tilapia adults from two other different farms. The results showed that from the tested fish, 4 of 5 Nile tilapia, 2 of 5 hybrid red tilapia and 3 of 5 giant gourami blood samples tested positive, while 38 of 40 blood samples of red tilapia tested positive for TiLV in second‐step PCR. Sequencing representative PCR amplicons of positive samples confirmed sequence identity to TiLV. In conclusion, both blood and liver biopsy are practical non‐destructive sampling platforms for TiLV screening in cichlids with blood being more convenient, especially for tilapia broodstock.     

罗非鱼海豚链球菌16S rRNA基因的序列测定和系统进化分析

为了从分子水平上对1株致病性罗非鱼链球菌进行分类学鉴定,利用原核生物16SrRNA基因通用引物对分离纯化的罗非鱼致病性链球菌进行16S rRNA基因的克隆及序列分析。结果扩增出长约1.5 kp目的片段,测序得到1条长度为1 447 bp核苷酸序列。核苷酸相似性分析表明,序列与NCB I公布的海豚链球菌(Streptococcus iniae,S.iniae)SCCF5L菌株16SrRNA基因核苷酸序列相似性最高(99.4%),暂称为中国广西株(S.iniae-CGX)。同时,亲源关系较近的S.iniae、S.difficilis和S.agalactiae代表菌株构建的系统发育进化树显示,所得菌株与S.iniae代表菌株组成同一进化分支,与S.agalactiae代表菌株组成的另一进化分支距离较近(95.5%),而与S.difficilis代表菌株组成的进化分支距离较远(92.3%)。上述研究证实,本试验从发病罗非鱼脑组织分离到的致病性链球菌为海豚链球菌。     

斑点叉尾TLR5和TLR5S基因在不同病原诱导下的表达特征

分别用迟钝爱德华氏菌Edwardsiella tarda、嗜水气单胞菌Aeromonas hydrophila、链球菌Streptococcus iniae和斑点叉尾(鱼回)呼肠孤病毒(channel catfish hemorrhage reovirus,CCRV)对斑点叉尾(鱼回)Ictalurus punctatus进行感染实验,取感染后0h、12h、24h、48h、72h和7d的头肾、肠、肝脏和脾脏,采用实时定量PCR方法检测了TLR5和TLR5S基因在这4种免疫相关组织中的时空表达特征,探讨它们与斑点叉尾(鱼回)先天免疫反应的关系.结果表明,链球菌和迟钝爱德华氏菌能够引起TLR5和TLR5S强烈的上调表达,其中以感染链球菌12h后TLR5S在头肾中的表达上调量最为显著,与对照组相比提高了132倍(P＜0.01).在感染嗜水气单胞菌后的24h内TLR5和TLR5S基因的表达量上升,但随后却显示出了明显的下调趋势,而斑点叉尾(鱼回)呼肠孤病毒在TLR5和TLR5S基因表达中起到了明显的抑制作用,于大部分组织中表达下调.在感染12h的脾脏中,TLR5基因的表达量仅为对照组的0.017倍(P＜0.01),而TLR5S基因表达量达到最低,仅为对照组的0.01倍(P＜0.01).从不同的组织来看,TLR5在肠中的表达上调幅度最大,而TLR5S在头肾中的表达增幅最明显,如感染链球菌和迟钝爱德华氏菌12h后,TLR5在肠中的表达量分别增加了50.4倍(P＜0.01)和14.8倍(P＜0.01),TLR5S在头肾中的表达量分别上升了52.8倍(P＜0.01)和132倍(P＜0.01).以上结果进一步证明了TLR5和TLR5S基因在斑点叉尾(鱼回)先天免疫反应过程中发挥着非常重要的作用,同时在抗病原侵袭过程中表现出了一定的组织特异性和病原特异性.     

采用通用引物PCR配合SSCP和RFLP技术检测鱼病病原菌

采用通用引物PCR（UPPCR）、PCR－RFLP、PCR－SSCP技术，研究快速鉴别鱼病病原菌的分子生物学诊断技术。结果发现，采用细菌16S rRNA基因保守区特异性引物，以嗜水气单胞菌、鲁克氏耶尔森菌、鳗弧菌、柱状曲挠杆菌、乙型链球菌、荧光假单胞菌等部分常见鱼病病原菌为对象，可以建立一种UPPCR技术。该技术能在保证实验条件不变的基础上，检出上述所有细菌，并还可检出大肠杆菌和双歧杆菌等非鱼病病原菌。并且认为，该法与SSCP配合即采用UPPCR－SSCP技术能较好地鉴别被检菌而用于鱼病病原菌的快速诊断。     

Application of the rpoS gene for the detection of Vibrio anguillarum in flounder and prawn by polymerase chain reaction

Vibrio anguillarum , an opportunistic fish pathogen, is the main species responsible for vibriosis, a disease that affects feral and farmed fish and shellfish, and causes considerable economic losses in marine aquaculture. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect V. anguillarum . PCR specificity was evaluated by amplifying the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, in six strains of V. anguillarum and 36 other bacterial species. PCR amplified a species-specific fragment (689 bp) from V. anguillarum . Furthermore, the PCR assay was sensitive enough to detect rpoS expression from 3 pg of genomic DNA , or from six colony-forming units (CFU) mL⁻¹ of cultured V. anguillarum . However, the assay was less sensitive when genomic DNA from the infected flounder and prawn was used (limit of detection, 50 ng and 10 ng g⁻¹ tissue, respectively). These data demonstrate that PCR amplification of the rpoS gene is a sensitive and species-specific method to detect V. anguillarum in practical situations.     

Control of Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Spotted Snakehead, Channa punctatus, by Solanum nigrum L., a Medicinal Plant

The present study describes the potential of black nightshade, Solanum nigrum , to control Aeromonas hydrophila infection in spotted snakehead, Channa punctatus . Similar sizes of Ch.   punctatus were grouped into three categories as follows: control (injected with sterilized water), Ae.   hydrophila infected   +   untreated, and Ae.   hydrophila infected   +   treated with S.   nigrum leaf extract. Hematological parameters (white blood cell [WBC], red blood cell [RBC], hemoglobin [Hb], and packed cell volume [PCV]) were analyzed in these fishes once every 5   d from Days 5 to 30 postexposure. Preliminary antibacterial assay reported that leaf extracted with ethyl acetate had the maximum inhibition compared to other parts of the plant (i.e., berries and whole plant) or when extracted with other solvent extracts (chloroform and ethanol). Except for WBC count, all other parameters showed a declining trend from Day 5 onward and reaching to a minimum on Day 30 in Ae.   hydrophila -infected fish, whereas the WBC count increased. The infected fish treated with S.   nigrum leaf extract reported a significant reversion to normal RBC, WBC, Hb, and PCV levels and the skin ulceration recovered within a short period. The antiulcer potential of the medicinal plant as described in humans may be extended to the fish population.     

Development of a multiplex PCR assay for Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida identification in fish samples

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction protocol for the detection of Photobacterium damselae and subspecies piscicida and damselae discrimination, with internal amplification control, was developed. Assay specificity was assessed by testing 19 target and 25 non-target pure cultures. The detection limit was 500 fg, corresponding to 100 genome equivalents. The optimized protocol was also prevalidated with spleen, kidney and blood samples from infected and uninfected sea bass, without any culture step, and it can be proposed as a valid alternative to culture standard methods for the rapid and specific diagnosis of photobacteriosis in fish.     

海豚链球菌感染对不同品系罗非鱼血液生化指标和肝脏HSP70 mRNA表达的影响

以吉富罗非鱼、新吉富罗非鱼、埃及尼罗罗非鱼和红罗非鱼为研究对象,饲养100d后,进行海豚链球菌(2.95×108CFU/mL)感染试验,分析攻毒前后各品系罗非鱼的血液生化指标和肝脏HSP70 mRNA表达量的变化规律。另从各桶中取20尾鱼进行同样的攻毒试验,统计攻毒后各时间点的累积死亡率。结果表明,感染海豚链球菌96h后,吉富罗非鱼和新吉富罗非鱼对病原较为敏感,累积死亡率分别达到36.67%和38.33%;埃及尼罗罗非鱼对病原敏感性较差,试验期间未见死亡。吉富罗非鱼、新吉富罗非鱼和红罗非鱼血清皮质醇和葡萄糖水平以及肝脏HSP70 mRNA的表达量在攻毒后明显提高,血清谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶与溶菌酶活力也呈上升趋势,碱性磷酸酶活力与甘油三酯和胆固醇水平低于攻毒前。埃及尼罗罗非鱼可以利用糖原和脂类产生的能量,提高了HSPS与一些特定免疫蛋白(溶菌酶、球蛋白等)的合成,增强了鱼体的非特异性免疫力。罗非鱼选育过程中,需要将抗病力与生长性能进行有效的结合,在注重生长速度的同时也要增强其抗应激能力,从而为罗非鱼产业的可持续发展提供保证。     

Identification of Vibrio harveyi,Vibrio ichthyoenteri,and Photobacterium damselae isolated from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Korea by multiplex PCR developed using the rpoB gene

Major fish bacterial diseases in Korea are edwardsiellosis, streptococcosis, and vibriosis. Among vibrionaceae, Listonella anguillarum, Vibrio harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and Photobacterium damselae were identified as causative organisms of vibriosis in flounder. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR method using the RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) gene, known as a housekeeping gene for identification of Vibrio spp. causing vibriosis in flounder. Three pairs of PCR primers were designed based on the rpoB sequence of three species, V. harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and P. damselae. The PCR assay, using a mixture of six primers, yielded amplicons of 601, 434, and 533 bp in V. harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and P. damselae. None of the untargeted species yielded an amplicon. The detection limits for pure culture in kidney were 2.5 × 10⁴ cfu/g kidney for V. harveyi, 2.5 × 10⁵ cfu/g kidney for V. ichthyoenteri, and 2.5 × 10⁶ cfu/g kidney for P. damselae. From the colonies on TCBS agar plates of different samples, 632 Vibrio spp. isolated from aquacultured flounder between 2004 and 2010 were identified by the multiplex PCR method. As a result, 265 strains (41.9 %) were V. ichthyoenteri; 115 strains (18.2 %) were V. harveyi and 72 strains (11.4 %) were P. damselae.     

Rapid and sensitive detection of Vibrio harveyi by loop‐mediated isothermal amplification combined with lateral flow dipstick targeted to vhhP2 gene

Vibrio harveyi is a causative agent of the Vibriosis or luminescent bacterial disease in worldwide aquaculture industry. A reliable assay for identification of V. harveyi infection is important to prevent the bacterial spread. In this study, biotinylated loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) amplicons were produced by a set of four designed primers that recognized specifically the V. harveyi vhhP2 gene, encoding a putative outer membrane protein with unknown function, followed by hybridization with an fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labelled probe and lateral flow dipstick (LFD) detection. A novel set of PCR primer was also designed specifically to vhhP2 gene and appear to be a species‐specific tool for V. harveyi detection. The optimized time and temperature conditions for the LAMP assay were 90 min at 65°C. The LAMP‐LFD and PCR methods accurately identified 22 isolates of V. harveyi but did not detect 16 non‐harveyi Vibrio isolates, and 34 non‐Vibrio bacterial isolates. The sensitivity of LAMP‐LFD for V. harveyi detection in pure culture was 1.1 × 10² CFU mL^?1 or equivalent to 0.6 CFU per reaction, while that of PCR was 6 CFU per reaction. For spiked shrimp sample, the sensitivity of LAMP was 1.8 × 10³ CFU g^?1 or equivalent to 5 CFU per reaction, while that of PCR was 50 CFU per reaction. In conclusion, the established LAMP‐LFD methods provided a valuable tool for rapid identification of V. harveyi and can be used to distinguish V. harveyi from V. campbellii.