TitlePathogenesis of Mycobacterium spp. in zebrafish (Danio rerio) from research facilities.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsWatral, V, Kent, ML
JournalComp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol
Volume145
Issue1
Pagination55-60
Date Published2007 Feb
ISSN1532-0456
KeywordsAnimals, Fish Diseases, Granuloma, Mycobacterium, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium Infections, Mycobacterium marinum, Zebrafish
Abstract

One of the most common diseases that we have diagnosed in zebrafish is mycobacteriosis, caused by several Mycobacterium spp. The severity of the disease ranged from severe outbreaks to incidental infections. We conducted an in vivo study to evaluate the pathogenesis of six isolates of Mycobacterium from zebrafish with mycobacteriosis from four research facilities and one wholesale supplier of zebrafish in the United States: Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium peregrinum, Mycobacterium chelonae (2 isolates), and Mycobacterium marinum. We also included two isolates of M. marinum from other fishes. Fish were exposed by intraperitoneal injection at a target does of 5 x 10(4) bacteria/fish, and were held in static aquaria at 28 degrees C for 8 weeks. Fish were examined by histology and culture, and mortalities were recorded. The M. marinum isolates caused 100% infection and mortality between 30% and 100%. None of the other Mycobacterium species caused significant mortalities, but several of these fish had granulomatous lesions in visceral organs. Mycobacteria were consistently recovered in culture from fish exposed to M. marinum, and from only 9% of fish exposed to the other species. This study suggests that, of the isolates tested, only M. marinum is highly pathogenic and virulent to healthy zebrafish.

DOI10.1016/j.cbpc.2006.06.004
Alternate JournalComp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol
PubMed ID16904945
Grant List5 R24 RR017386-02 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
P40 RR12546 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States