25
than 7 days, and the pond then returned to use (Huss et al. 1974b ; Cann and Taylor
1982 ). To remove clostridia from the gastro-intestinal tract of trout, it has been recommended that the fi sh should be starved for 5 days (Wenzel et al. 1971 ). However,
Huss et al. ( 1974b ) showed that whereas starvation does indeed reduce contamination with Cl. botulinum , the overall rate of success depends on other factors, including the nature of the water supply. It should be emphasised that clostridia may be
normal inhabitants of the fi sh intestine.
Eubacteriaceae Representative
Eubacterium tarantellae
Characteristics of the Disease
The term ‘eubacterial meningitis’ was coined for this disease (Winton et al. 1983 ),
which is a neurological condition whereby infected fi sh twirl in the water until death
results (Udey et al. 1976 ). There was little, if any, external pathology observed, but
cells of the pathogen may be readily observed in sections of brain tissue. It is interesting to note from Udey’s work that some fi sh were also infected with other organisms, namely, trematodes ( Bucephalus sp.) and Vibrio spp.; whereas ~20 %
possessed low numbers of Myxosoma cephalus spores in the brain cavity. Therefore,
the question must be asked whether this anaerobe represented a primary or secondary pathogen during the original outbreak of disease in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA.
Isolation of the Pathogen
Samples of tissues should be plated on BHIA, whereupon bacterial cultures will
develop after 7 days anaerobic incubation at room temperature. Additionally, tissues
may be inoculated into Brewer’s thioglycollate medium (Appendix in Chap. 12 ;
Udey et al. 1977 ). The organism has been recovered from diseased larval gut fl ora
of common dentex ( Dentex dentex ) in Turkey (Akalyi et al. 2015 ).
Characteristics of the Pathogen
It was reported initially by Udey et al. ( 1976 ) that a novel anaerobic organism was
capable of producing a neurological disease in striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus ).
This conclusion resulted from an investigation into major fi sh mortalities in Biscayne
Bay. The anaerobe was subsequently elevated to species status, as Eubacterium
tarantellus (Udey et al. 1977 ), and then corrected to Eu. tarantellae (Trüper and
de’Clari 1997 ). It seems likely that Catenabacterium , previously described as an
Eubacteriaceae Representative
than 7 days, and the pond then returned to use (Huss et al. 1974b ; Cann and Taylor
1982 ). To remove clostridia from the gastro-intestinal tract of trout, it has been recommended that the fi sh should be starved for 5 days (Wenzel et al. 1971 ). However,
Huss et al. ( 1974b ) showed that whereas starvation does indeed reduce contamination with Cl. botulinum , the overall rate of success depends on other factors, including the nature of the water supply. It should be emphasised that clostridia may be
normal inhabitants of the fi sh intestine.
Eubacteriaceae Representative
Eubacterium tarantellae
Characteristics of the Disease
The term ‘eubacterial meningitis’ was coined for this disease (Winton et al. 1983 ),
which is a neurological condition whereby infected fi sh twirl in the water until death
results (Udey et al. 1976 ). There was little, if any, external pathology observed, but
cells of the pathogen may be readily observed in sections of brain tissue. It is interesting to note from Udey’s work that some fi sh were also infected with other organisms, namely, trematodes ( Bucephalus sp.) and Vibrio spp.; whereas ~20 %
possessed low numbers of Myxosoma cephalus spores in the brain cavity. Therefore,
the question must be asked whether this anaerobe represented a primary or secondary pathogen during the original outbreak of disease in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA.
Isolation of the Pathogen
Samples of tissues should be plated on BHIA, whereupon bacterial cultures will
develop after 7 days anaerobic incubation at room temperature. Additionally, tissues
may be inoculated into Brewer’s thioglycollate medium (Appendix in Chap. 12 ;
Udey et al. 1977 ). The organism has been recovered from diseased larval gut fl ora
of common dentex ( Dentex dentex ) in Turkey (Akalyi et al. 2015 ).
Characteristics of the Pathogen
It was reported initially by Udey et al. ( 1976 ) that a novel anaerobic organism was
capable of producing a neurological disease in striped mullet ( Mugil cephalus ).
This conclusion resulted from an investigation into major fi sh mortalities in Biscayne
Bay. The anaerobe was subsequently elevated to species status, as Eubacterium
tarantellus (Udey et al. 1977 ), and then corrected to Eu. tarantellae (Trüper and
de’Clari 1997 ). It seems likely that Catenabacterium , previously described as an
Eubacteriaceae Representative