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High mortalities caused by Aeromonas veronii:identification, pathogenicity, and histopathologicalstudies in Oreochromis niloticus

Aquaculture International • 2019
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Publication Information
Authors A. M. Abd El Latif, Hiam Elabd, Aziza Amin, A. I. Noor Eldeen & A. A. Shaheen
Keywords Not Available
Journal Aquaculture International
Publisher Springer
Volume 27
Issue Not Available
Pages 1725–1737
publication.type International
Paper Link Open Link
Supplementary Materials Not Available
Abstract
The current study planned to identify suspected causes of mass mortalities in Oreochromis niloticus at private fish farms in Port Said Governorate, Egypt, during the 2017 summer season. One hundred twenty diseased moribund O. niloticus fish were randomly collected from different locations. The examined fish showed lethargy, dark skin, bilateral exophthalmia with corneal opacity, and varying degrees of ulcers. Internal examination revealed generalized inflammation, congestion, hemorrhaging, and enlargement of most internal organs. Identification was accomplished through analytical profile index (API) 20E and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and confirmed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. An antibiogram was constructed based on results from a disc diffusion test. Experimental infection was also performed and showed 80% mortality. Virulence genes were also assayed. Histopathological examination of experimentally challenged fish revealed prominent pathological lesions (mainly necrosis), degenerative changes, and cellular vacuolation. In conclusion, Aeromonas veronii can be considered one of the main causes of summer mass mortalities in O. niloticus in the study area.