Streptococcus agalactiae Infection in Wild Trahira (Hoplias malabaricus) and Farmed Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) in Brazil: An Interspecies Transmission in Aquatic Environments Shared with Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
2024

Streptococcus agalactiae Infection in Wild Trahira and Farmed Arapaima in Brazil

Sample size: 9 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Leal Carlos Augusto Gomes, Xavier Rafael Gariglio Clark, de Queiroz Guilherme Alves, Silva Tarcísio Martins França, Teixeira Júnia Pacheco, Aburjaile Flávia Figueira, Tavares Guilherme Campos

Primary Institution: Federal University of Minas Gerais

Hypothesis

What is the genetic and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus agalactiae in wild trahira and farmed arapaima in Brazil?

Conclusion

This study reports the first natural outbreak of Streptococcus agalactiae infection in wild trahira and farmed arapaima, indicating potential interspecies transmission in shared aquatic environments.

Supporting Evidence

  • Streptococcus agalactiae was identified in all diseased fish.
  • Trahira strains were classified as non-typeable lineages, while arapaima strains were classified as ST260.
  • The pathogenicity of the bacterium was confirmed by Koch’s postulates for both fish species.
  • Four isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant.

Takeaway

Fish can get sick from bacteria that spread in the water, and this study found that two types of fish in Brazil got sick from the same bacteria.

Methodology

The study involved sampling moribund fish, bacterial examination, genotyping using REP-PCR and MLST, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Limitations

The study was limited to specific geographic locations and may not represent all populations of the fish species involved.

Participant Demographics

The study focused on wild trahira and farmed arapaima in Brazil.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/microorganisms12122393

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