Comparative challenge model of Flavobacterium columnare using abraded and unabraded channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque)

Abstract

The early entry of the fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare and enhancement by abrasion was studied in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), using the polymerase chain reaction and a species-specific primer set for a bacterial 16S rRNA gene product. Evaluations were conducted following an abrasion bath immersion challenge with F. columnare. Abrasion, a practice which has historically been used prior to bacterial challenge, had significant effects on the early entry of the pathogen and on cumulative percent survival (CPS). The FvpF1-FvpR1 primer set was useful in detecting the early entry of F. columnare in mucus, skin, gill, blood, liver and trunk kidney tissues in both abraded and unabraded fish following immersion challenge at 29 +/- 2 degrees C. Bacteria were detected earlier in all tissues in abraded fish, except in the trunk kidney. These differences were not significant, except in the case of blood. Mucus, skin and gill tissues were positive for F. columnare earliest regardless of treatment (after 5 min in abraded fish and after 15 min in unabraded fish). CPS following challenge with F. columnare was significantly affected by abrasion, which supports the use of abrasion for the F. columnare challenge model for channel catfish.

Susceptibility of zebra fish Danio rerio to infection by Flavobacterium columnare and F. johnsoniae

“…Bader et al (2003b) , respectively (Bader et al 2006). Zebra fish have been suggested as an immunological model system and as a system for bacterial pathogenesis (Neely et al 2002, Yoder et al 2002.…”

Effects of gill abrasion and experimental infection with Tenacibaculum maritimum on the respiratory physiology of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar affected by amoebic gill disease

“…Although primarily a skin infection causing ulcerative dermatitis (Handlinger et al 1997), gill infections where a necrotizing branchitis occurs are not uncommon (Handlinger et al 1997). Gill abrasion has been reported to enhance the susceptibility of catfish Ictalurus punctatus to infection with Flavobacterium columnare (Bader et al 2003), and skin abrasion has been used to enhance infections of salmonids to T. maritimum (J. Carson pers. comm.).…”

Effect of Pseudomonas sp. MT5 baths on Flavobacterium columnare infection of rainbow trout and on microbial diversity on fish skin and gills

“…Relman et al 1992, Rantakokko-Jalava et al 2000, Rogers et al 2003) and in fish (Tiirola et al 2002). Species-specific primers are used when samples are screened for known pathogens and such primers have also been developed for Flavobacterium columnare (Bader & Shotts 1998, Bader et al 2003b). However, species-specific PCR may not give a real understanding of the total bacterial diversity and of changes in the microbial community, whereas universal primers can be used to amplify all bacterial rDNA.…”

“…Twenty-four h after Pseudomonas bathing, the fish were bathed with 3.6 × 10 3 CFU -1 ml -1 of Flavobacterium columnare (strain KE02). The skin of all fish was abraded to ensure the invasion of F. columnare (Madetoja et al 2000, Bader et al 2003b). The second exposure was given on Day 16 by again scraping the fish and exposing them to F. columnare.…”