BACTERIAL ULCERATIVE DERMATITIS IN A PIRANHA (PYGOCENTRUS NATTERERI) FED WITH FRESH FISH DIET

A red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), kept as a pet by a private owner, was presented for multifocal ulcerative lesions. Lesion biopsies were collected under general anesthesia and submitted for histopathologic and microbiologic examination. Histological examination revealed a bacterial necrotizing ulcerative dermatitis. From cultural analysis of the biopsy, Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella ictaluri were isolated. Multidrug resistance was observed in both isolates, except for neomycin and ceftazidime. Intramuscular injections of ceftazidime 22 mg/kg were administered until complete healing of the wound, except for small dermal scars that remained following treatment. Given that the piranha was maintained alone since it was purchased, except for occasional feedings with fresh nonfrozen goldfish, horizontal transmission of the infection from the prey species was considered the source of infection.