Columnaris Disease

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Flavobacterium columnare
Kingdom	Bacteria
Phylum	Bacteroidetes
Class	Flavobacteria
Order	Flavobacteriales
Family	Flavobacteriaceae
Genus	Flavobacterium
Species	F. columnare

Caused by: Flavobacterium columnare

Previously Known As: Bacillus columnaris — Chondrococcus columnaris — Cytophaga columnaris — Flexibacter columnaris

Introduction

Columnaris Disease in the gills of a Chinook salmon. Wikimedia Commons

F. columnare is the gram negative, aerobic, rod shaped bacterium responsible for Columnaris disease in fish.

This disease is not zoonotic.

Distribution

Worldwide. The organism is ubiquitous in aquatic freshwater environments.

Signalment

A huge range of fish hosts can be infected including the trout and salmon family, eels, goldfish, Siamese fighting fish, catfish and bass species. Cultured fish, free ranging fish and aquarium fish can all be affected although cultured fish reared in ponds or raceways are the primary concern. It is not recognised as a problem in wild fish populations.

Columnaris disease can occur in cool and warm water fish, but is most prevalent in air temperatures above 12-14⁰C.

Skin abrasions, husbandry stressors such as overcrowding, poor nutrition, underlying diseases and warm water all increase the risk and prevalence of infection.

Clinical Signs

The skin and fins of infected fish may darken or lighten in colour and circular yellow-grey opalescent necrotic patches or erosions are visible on the skin and/or gills. The gill filaments may have whitish spots on their tips. Mucus often also accumulates on the gills, head and dorsal regions. In advanced disease, erythematous spots are widespread. Inappetance and lethargy are common, as are mortalities. Gill lesions cause respiratory distress and its associated clinical signs – gulping air, sinking, erratic behaviour etc. Morbidity can approach 100% and mortalities are highest in younger fish.

In catfish specifically, severe tissue necrosis develops into “saddleback” lesions on the dorsum.

Diagnosis

Bacteria can be isolated from gills, skin and sometimes internal organs, particularly the kidneys.

The pathogen can then be cultured on reduced nutrient agar, such as cytophaga agar. Culture is often more successful by inhibiting contaminant growth on the agar by adding neomycin or polymyxin B. The bacterium will also grow at 37⁰C which will inhibit most other pathogens of interest so can be used as an inhibitory factor. Colonies are small, 3-4mm in diameter and grow within 24h. They are characteristically and uniquely rhizoid in structure and pale yellow in colour, and adhere to the agar surface. They stain pink when exposed to potassium hydroxide. This pathognomic culture finding can be used as a definitive diagnosis for columnaris disease, especially where clinical signs are present.

Phenotypic tests can then be carried out on colonies if in any doubt.

Microscopy of wet tissue mounts from gill or skin scrapings often reveals haystacks or columns of bacteria. Cells can also form chains, giving the impression of a longer, single prokaryotic cell.

Treatment

Potassium permanganate, copper sulphate and hydrogen peroxide can be applied externally to adult fish and fry but can be toxic at high concentrations.

Terramycin can also be added to feed for adults, fry or broodstock, but resistance is emerging.

Vaccines can also be given in the face of an outbreak.

Control

A vaccine is available against F. columnare, consisting of formalin killed whole cells.

Columnaris Disease Learning Resources
Flashcards Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions	Columnaris Disease Flashcards Ornamental Fish Q&A 03

References

Starliper, C.E. and Schill, W.B. 2011. Flavobacterial Diseases: Coldwater Disease, Columnaris Disease, and Bacterial Gill Diseases. In: Fish Diseases and Disorders Volume 3: Viral, Bacterial and Fungal Infections, 2nd. Edition (eds. P.T.K. Woo and D.W. Bruno), CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 606-631

This article was originally sourced from The Animal Health & Production Compendium (AHPC) published online by CABI during the OVAL Project. The datasheet was accessed on 11 July 2011.

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