The Isolation And Identification Of Fish Bacterial Pathogens

Expanded and updated, this second edition considers fish diseases in the context of the fish's environment, and includes coverage of many aspects of microbiology. The authors provide information on the structure of fish in order to help familiarize readers with general fish anatomy. All the bacterial taxa which have been reported as fish pathogens are included, and the material is subdivided for easy reference into sections which deal with characteristics of the diseases, isolation methods, characterization of the pathogens, diagnosis, epizootilogy, pathogenicity mechanisms and control. Written by bacteriologists for microbiologists, the book tabulates the identification procedures, and gives characteristics of pathogens, the diseases and their control. As farmed fish are of greater commercial importance, and the consequences of losses attributable to bacterial fish pathogens therefore of greater economic consequence, the authors concentrate on these rather than on wild stocks.

This book puts emphasis on the isolation, taxonomy, diagnosis (phenotypic, serology and molecular biology), epizootiology, pathogenicity mechanisms, and methods of disease control (by vaccination, immunostimulation, probiotics, prebiotics, plant products, and antimicrobial compounds. Co-infections, which are attributed to more than one microbial species have been discussed. Shortcomings in knowledge have been highlighted. This sixth edition is the successor to the original version, first published in 1987, and which fills the need for an up-to-date comprehensive text on the biological aspects of the bacterial taxa which cause disease in finfish. The book is primarily targeted at researcher workers, including postgraduate students, and diagnosticians. It is anticipated that the readership will include veterinary microbiologists, public health scientists and microbial ecologists.

The knowledge of isolation and identification of bacteria from aquatic animals and the aquatic environment is expanding at a rapid rate. New organisms, be they pathogens, environmental, normal flora, or potential probiotics, are being described and reported each month. This has resulted due to increases in aquaculture research, in intensive fish farming systems, and in the international trade of live aquatic animals and products as well as the emergence of new diseases. This manual provides a source that enables the identification of bacteria that may be found in animals (particularly fish) that inhabit the aquatic environment. The emphasis is on bacteria from farmed aquatic animals.

This revised edition fills the need for an up-to-date comprehensive book on the biological aspects of the bacterial taxa which cause disease in fish. Since the 3rd edition was published in 1999, much has changed in the control of disease of farmed and wild fish. This book analyses all the new information, including that on new pathogens and new developments on long established diseases, such as furunculosis and vibriosis. Consideration is given to all of the bacterial taxa which have at some time been reported as fish pathogens, whether they are secondary invaders of already damaged tissue or serious, primary pathogens.

This practical book provides an updated resource for the identification of bacteria found in animals inhabiting the aquatic environment, illustrated with colour photos. It contains expanded biochemical identification tables to include newly identified pathogenic and saprophytic bacteria, molecular identification tests now available for a greater number of aquatic bacterial pathogens, more information on the pathogenesis and virulence of each organism and new coverage of traditional and molecular identification of fungal pathogens and quality assurance standards for laboratories.