Development of a Multiplex Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization Assay to Identify Coinfections in Young‐of‐the‐Year Smallmouth Bass. Issue 1 (8th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walsh, Heather L.; Blazer, Vicki S.; Mazik, Patricia M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aquatic animal health. Volume 34:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2021-10-08
• Subjects: Aquatic animals -- Periodicals; Aquatic animals -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 571.917
• DOI: 10.1002/aah.10144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-7659

Abstract

Abstract: Histopathological assessments of young‐of‐the‐year (age‐0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu in the Susquehanna River drainage identified a high prevalence of the myxozoan Myxobolus inornatus . This myxozoan infects the connective tissue of the muscle below the skin but is sometimes observed in the esophagus and buccal cavity. In some instances, shallow infections cause breaks in the skin, which could increase the chance of opportunistic bacterial infections. Several microbial pathogens, including Flavobacterium columnare, Aeromonas spp., and Largemouth Bass virus, have also been cultured from clinically diseased young of year. A multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was developed to determine potential colocalization of M. inornatus, Flavobacterium spp., and Aeromonas spp. infections. With FISH, 75% of age‐0 Smallmouth Bass exhibited M. inornatus infections, 10% had Aeromonas spp. infections, and 5% had Flavobacterium spp. infections, while 3% had coinfections with both bacterial species and M. inornatus . The results of the multiplex FISH assay revealed a low occurrence of coinfections of Flavobacterium spp. and/or Aeromonas spp. with M. inornatus in randomly sampled individuals.