Study on infections of Mycobacterium sp. in siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens Regan) by bath challenge
1995
Tasana Sodchit
Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens Regan were immered in Mycobacterium suspensions at concentrations of 9*10*[4), 1*10*[4), 1*10*[3) and 0.8*10*[2) cells/ml for 2 weeks. Four replicates of each concentration were set up. Typical tuberculosis granulomas were observed in the skin and oral cavity of experimental fish around 7 and 10 days after the bath challenge from the first two concentrations and the last two concentrations respectively. Granulomas spread to most of the internal organs by the third week of the challenge. All experimental fish became infected by the end of the trial (4 months). Spleen and kidney appeared to be the most susceptible organs as more granulomas developed in these two organs. Both soft and hard granulomas were found in the infected fish. No mortalities occurred in infected fish during the first month of the challenge. Infected fish started to die in the second month and the mortality rate increased to the end of the experiment in relation to the bacterial concentrations. The average cumulative mortalities in the fourth month were 64, 48, 36 and 27 percent respectively. Siamese fighting fish produced antibody to Mycobacterium by the immersion method at a concentration of 9*10*[4) cells/ml with a titer of 5.3 by one week after bathing. After the first immersion the highest antibody titer of 16 was recored in the third week. Second and third immersions were made in the fourth and eighth weeks. Antibody titers increased dramatically, and the highest titres of 96 and 128 were reached in weeks 7 and 10 respectively.
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