Mortalidade por "septicemia dos peixes tropicais" em tilápias criadas em consorciação com suínos

Portuguese. Com o objetivo de estudar a variação sazonal da septicemia dos peixes tropicais provocada por Edwardsiella tarda foram observadas 50 tilápias (Oreochromis sp.) no verão, 45 no outono, 55 no inverno e 105 na primavera. Os peixes doentes apresentavam opacidade de córnea, dificuldade respiratória, nado desordenado, nódulos nas brânquias e lesões hemorrágicas na pele e nadadeiras. Após três dias de observação as tilápias morriam naturalmente. Nas necrópsias foi encontrado ascite com distensão da cavidade celomática e lesões hemorrágicas e necróticas no fígado, baço e rins. No interior do tubo digestivo observou-se enterite hemorrágica. Isolou-se Edwardsiella tarda a partir de provas positivas para H2S, lisina, indol, motilidade e glicose com gás. Os índices de mortalidade foram: na primavera 69,9%, no inverno 63,6%, no verão 48,0% e no outono 40,0%.

English. A rural property was observed for one year to obtain seasonal observations of Edwardsiella septicemia in tilapias (Oreochromis sp.) from an integrated fish farm (using pig excrements as food). Fifty tilapias on summer, forty-five on autumn, fifty-five on winter and one hundred and five on spring were collected and evaluated microbiologically for the presence of Edwardsiella tarda. Samples of the external surface (skin, gills and fin), intestines and muscle were analyzed. Fishes were transported alive to the laboratory, and maintained for five days for observation. The external signs observed were opacity of cornea, respiratory difficulty, disordered swimming, nodules on gills, hemorrhagic lesions under the skin and fins and incoordination of the posterior part of the body. In general, after three days of observation, the tilapias died. At necropsy, ascites with the distension of the celomatic cavity, hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions in the liver, spleen and kidneys were found. Hemorrhagic enteritis was observed in the gut tube. Edwardsiella tarda isolated presented the following biochemical profile: negative urea, sucrose, phenylalanine desaminase and malonate utilization, and positive indole, methyl red, H2S, motility, glucose with gas production and lysine decarboxylase. The mortality rates were 69.9% on spring, 63.6% on winter, 48.0% on summer and 40.0% on autumn, highest rates occurring on spring and winter (P<0,05).