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| Edwardsiella ictaluri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Pseudomonadati |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Enterobacterales |
| Family: | Hafniaceae |
| Genus: | Edwardsiella |
| Species: | E. ictaluri |
| Binomial name | |
| Edwardsiella ictaluri Hawke & al., 1981[1] | |
Edwardsiella ictaluri (also known as enteric septicaemia of catfish,hole in the head disease[2] andESC) is a member of the familyHafniaceae. The bacterium is a short,gram negative,pleomorphic rod with flagella. It causes the disease enteric septicaemia ofcatfish (ESC), which infects a variety of fish species (including many catfish species,knifefish andbarbs). The bacteria can cause either acutesepticaemia or chronicencephalitis in infected fish. Outbreaks normally occur in spring and autumn.
Edwardsiella ictaluri can be found inAsia and theUnited States, being of particular economic importance in the U.S. It is not azoonosis.
Acute ESC infection causes an acute septicaemia that presents as multiplepetechial haemorrhages that develop into depigmentedulcers. Additional clinical signs include abnormal behavior,exophthalmos,hemorrhagic gastroenteritis,edema andascites. Chronic ESC infection causes a chronicencephalitis. Clinical signs include abnormal behavior, abnormal swimming patterns, swelling andulceration of the head and death.
Any fish that survive the infection become latentcarriers of the disease.
A presumptive diagnosis can be made based on the clinical signs alone butPCR, indirectimmunofluorescence,bacterial culture andELISA can be used to definitively diagnose the disease.
Severalantibiotics can be used to treat the disease, but there are reports ofresistance emerging.Vaccination can be used to prevent disease. Management factors such as reducing stocking density and stress should be considered.
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