Epizootics of Pseudomonas anguilliseptica among cultured seabream (Sparus aurata) populations: Control and treatment strategies

The present study was investigating the clinical pictures, prevalence, as well as the ecological conditions associated with Pseudomonas anguilliseptica outbreaks in four cultured seabream, Sparus aurata farms at different localities in Egypt during winter of 2016. The phenotypic and genotypic patterns of Pseudomonas isolates were investigated. The existence of intraspecific heterogeneity among different isolates was analyzed using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technique. Attempts on disease control using antibiogram or dietary supplement were also considered. To achieve these goals, various commercial antibiotic discs were analyzed against Ps. anguilliseptica isolates using the disc diffusion method. Additionally, the impact of one-month dietary incorporation with 3% garlic extract or 0.5% potassium diformate on S. aurata viability and response for prolonged bathing treatment with florfenicol was evaluated following challenge with the virulent strain of Ps. anguilliseptica. Most of the naturally infected fish displayed spiral-swimming behavior with no obvious external lesions. The prevalence of infections in the four investigated farms (F1, F2, F3, and F4) were 44.9, 69.04, 67.72, and 83.4%, respectively. Water analysis revealed a significant variation in total hardness, pH, dissolved oxygen (D.O), ammonia and salinity among different localities. All isolates were rather uniform in most of the biochemical characteristics and were identical on the basis of RFLP analysis. The analyses of PAF-PAR gene pointed out specific amplification bands of 439 bp length. The antibiogram revealed a potential activity of florfenicol, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and oxytetracycline against all isolates. Experimentally challenged fish fed on garlic extract or potassium diformate presented lower mortality and better therapeutic response to florfenicol than those fed on a normal basal diet. In conclusion, Ps. anguilliseptica is a prevalent pathogen among cultured seabream where dietary inclusion of 3% garlic extract or 0.5% potassium diformate seemed to improve seabream health status and subsequently, increase the efficacy of the treatment with the selective antibiotic.