An epizootic in pond cultured sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus, was caused by Nocardia sp. in Taiwan, in September and October 1997. The cumulative mortality within 1 month was 17.5% (3500 out of 20 000 fish) and diseased fish were 7 months old with total lengths from 25 to 30 cm. Multiple, yellowish white nodules, 0.1–0.2 cm in diameter, were scattered in the gill, heart, liver, spleen and kidney. Histopathologically, typical granulomatous lesions appeared in those organs. The morphology of isolated bacteria from brain heart infusion (BHI) medium or Lowenstein–Jensen medium (LJM) were bead‐like filaments, as shown by Ziehl‐Neelsen's (ZN) staining method. The gross lesion and histopathological changes found in experimentally infected fish were similar to those in naturally infected fish. Based on the growth characteristics, morphological and biochemical properties of the bacterium, and histopathological changes, the isolated bacteria were identified as Nocardiaseriolae. This is the first report of N. seriolae‐infected sea bass in aquaculture.
Avian tuberculosis was diagnosed via histopathology, microbiology, and molecular biology in two of six pheasants from a local sanctuary bird house in Taiwan. Swinehoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) is a near-threatened species in Taiwan. The infected birds showed clinical signs such as fatigue, inappetence, diarrhea, and fluffing of feathers. On postmortem, nonmineralized caseogranulomas were present in the brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen, costal membranes, and intestinal tracts. The presence of granulomas in the lungs of the infected pheasants may suggest that exposure to the infective agent was via the respiratory route rather than the alimentary route. Histopathologic findings were typical of avian tuberculosis, including acid-fast bacilli and centrally located caseous necrosis surrounded by epitheloid macrophages, lymphocytes, and multinucleated giant cells. Laboratory confirmation was made based on lesions and via Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast stain, polymerase chain reaction, nucleic acid sequencing, and a reliable assay protocol for identification of diseases bioactive amplification with probing assay.
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