Changes

Also known as: ''''' Focal tuberculosis in fish, '''''—''''' Piscine mycobacteriosis '''''— ''''' Piscine tubercle'''''—''''' chronic inflammatory foci (CIF) '''''—'''''  tubercle granuloma.

Also known as: ''''' Focal tuberculosis in fish, '''''—''''' Piscine mycobacteriosis '''''— ''''' Piscine tubercle'''''—''''' chronic inflammatory foci (CIF) '''''—'''''  tubercle granuloma.

==Introduction==

==Introduction==

Mycobacteria infect many species of freshwater, saltwater and aquarium fish. The latter species  are more likely to show a higher incidence of disease due to the chronicity of the disease and increased ages of aquarium kept fish compared to commercial fish.   

''Mycobacteria'' infect many species of '''freshwater, saltwater''' and '''aquarium fish'''. The latter species  are more likely to show a higher incidence of disease due to the chronicity of the disease and increased ages of aquarium kept fish compared to commercial fish.   

Some mycobacteria found in fish species are zoonotic and M. marinum and M. Fortuitum, can cause skin disease in humans.  Outbreaks have been reported from cutaneous abrasions and exposure to contaminated swimming pool water.  M. fortuitum has been cultured from patients with pulmonary disease and local abscesses (Cruz, 1938) Cruz JC, 1938. Mycobacterium fortuitum um Novo Bacilo Acidoresistente Patogenico para o Homen. Acta Medical Rio de Janeiro, 1:297.and M. chelonei has been isolated from heterograph heart-valve transplants, synovial fluid and muscle (Blacklock and Dawson, 1979; Blacklock ZM, Dawson DJ, 1979. Atypical mycobacteria causing nonpulmonary disease in Queenland. Pathology, 11:283-288. Thoen and Schliesser, 1984). Thoen CO, Schliesser TA, 1984. Mycobacterial infections in cold-blooded animals. In: Kubica GP, Wayne LG, eds. The Mycobacteria: A Sourcebook Part B. New York, USA: Marcel Dekker, 1297-1311.

 

Some ''mycobacteria'' found in fish species are '''zoonotic''' and '''''M. marinum''''' and '''''M. Fortuitum''''', can cause '''skin disease in humans'''.  Outbreaks have been reported from '''cutaneous abrasions''' and '''exposure to contaminated swimming pool water'''.  ''M. fortuitum'' has been cultured from patients with pulmonary disease and local abscesses (Cruz, 1938) Cruz JC, 1938. Mycobacterium fortuitum um Novo Bacilo Acidoresistente Patogenico para o Homen. Acta Medical Rio de Janeiro, 1:297.and M. chelonei has been isolated from heterograph heart-valve transplants, synovial fluid and muscle (Blacklock and Dawson, 1979; Blacklock ZM, Dawson DJ, 1979. Atypical mycobacteria causing nonpulmonary disease in Queenland. Pathology, 11:283-288. Thoen and Schliesser, 1984). Thoen CO, Schliesser TA, 1984. Mycobacterial infections in cold-blooded animals. In: Kubica GP, Wayne LG, eds. The Mycobacteria: A Sourcebook Part B. New York, USA: Marcel Dekker, 1297-1311.

==Signalment==

==Signalment==

The disease has been reported in many species of fish as well as Penaeidae (prawn spp) and sea horses.  Outbreaks have been reported in salmon, cod, halibut, bass, mackerel, turbot , trout, morays,  silversides,  tilapia and perch.  Pond dwelling species such as pejerrey and snakehead fish and freshwater aquarium fish such as the Siamese fighting fish,  Goldfish, Eight-banded cichlid, Zebrafish, Neon tetra, and Labyrinth fish.

The disease has been reported in many species of fish as well as ''Penaeidae'' (prawn spp) and sea horses.  Outbreaks have been reported in salmon, cod, halibut, bass, mackerel, turbot , trout, morays,  silversides,  tilapia and perch.  Pond dwelling species such as pejerrey and snakehead fish and freshwater aquarium fish such as the Siamese fighting fish,  Goldfish, Eight-banded cichlid, Zebrafish, Neon tetra, and Labyrinth fish.

The severity of the disease has been linked to age and disease outbreaks can be linked to nutrient and water quality and quantity, stress and stocking density.

The '''severity''' of the disease has been '''linked to age''' and disease outbreaks can be linked to '''nutrient and water quality''' and '''quantity, stress''' and '''stocking density'''.

 

==Clinical Signs==

==Clinical Signs==

Clinical signs consist of haemorrhagic lesions, erosion and scale loss on skin and fins, enlarged organs, lordosis, cachexia, exophthalmia, loss of pigmentation, and pale and cystic gills.  Behavioural signs include cessation of feeding, lethargy, and swimming near the surface.  

Clinical signs consist of '''haemorrhagic lesions, erosion and scale loss on skin and fins''', enlarged organs, lordosis, cachexia, exophthalmia, '''loss of pigmentation''', and '''pale and cystic gills'''.  Behavioural signs include '''cessation of feeding, lethargy''', and '''swimming near the surface'''.  

 

==Epidemiology==

==Epidemiology==

Fish may be infected by ingesting feed and water contaminated with faecal material, urine or exudates from diseased animals that contain mycobacteria (Ross and Johnson, 1962) Ross AJ, Johnson HE, 1962. Studies of transmission of mycobacterial infections of chinook salmon. Progressive Fish Culturist, 24:147-149. The identification of Mycobacteria and acid-fast bacteria in piscine ova and tubercle granulomas in ovarys of different species suggests that transovarian transmission may be a possibility.

Fish may be infected by ingesting feed and water contaminated with faecal material, urine or exudates from diseased animals that contain mycobacteria (Ross and Johnson, 1962) Ross AJ, Johnson HE, 1962. Studies of transmission of mycobacterial infections of chinook salmon. Progressive Fish Culturist, 24:147-149. The identification of Mycobacteria and acid-fast bacteria in piscine ova and tubercle granulomas in ovarys of different species suggests that transovarian transmission may be a possibility.