Prevalence of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis in Cultured Tilapia on the Island of Oahu,Hawaii |
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| Authors: | Esteban Soto Kathleen McGovern-Hopkins Ruth Klinger-Bowen Bradley K. Fox James Brock Nathene Antonio |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine , Ross University , Post Office Box 334, Basseterre , St. Kitts , West Indies;2. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources , University of Hawaii–Manoa, Agricultural Science 218 , 1955 East-West Road, Honolulu , Hawaii , 96822 , USA;3. Moana Technologies, LLC , Halawa Research Station , 99-1255 Waiua Place 4, Aiea , Hawaii , 96701 , USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Francisellosis is an emergent disease in cultured and wild aquatic animals. The causative agent, Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno), is a gram-negative bacterium recognized as one of the most virulent pathogens of warmwater fish. The main objective of this project was to investigate the prevalence of Fno in cultured tilapia (specifically, Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus, Koilapia [also known as Wami Tilapia] O. hornorum, Blue Tilapia O. aureus, and Nile Tilapia O. niloticus hybrids) on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, using conventional and real-time PCR assays followed by statistical modeling to compare the different diagnostic methods and identify potential risk factors. During 2010 and 2012, 827 fish were collected from different geographical locations throughout the island of Oahu. Upon collection of fish, the water temperature in the rearing system and the length of individual fish were measured. Extraction of DNA from different tissues collected aseptically during necropsy served as a template for molecular diagnosis. High correlation between both molecular methods was observed. Moreover, the bacterium was isolated from infected tilapia on selective media and confirmed to be Fno utilizing a species-specific Taqman-based real-time PCR assay. Although a direct comparison of the prevalence of Fno between the different geographical areas was not possible, the results indicate a high prevalence of Fno DNA in cultured tilapia throughout the farm sites located on Oahu. Of the different tilapia species and hybrids currently cultured in Hawaii, Mozambique Tilapia were more susceptible to infection than Koilapia. Water temperature in the rearing systems and fish size also had a strong effect on the predicted level of infection, with fish held at lower temperatures and smaller fish being more susceptible to piscine francisellosis. Received November 30, 2012; accepted February 22, 2013 |
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