Relative prevalence of Mycobacterium marinum in fish collected from aquaria and natural freshwaters in central Europe
Abstract
A survey was carried out on occurrence of Mycobacterium marinum in fish kept in aquaria and those living in their natural environment. Species-specific qPCR targeting the erp and IS2404 genes together with the conventional culture method were used.
The analysis of 72 ornamental fish (n=216 samples: gills, muscle and intestine) collected from aquaria revealed the presence of M.marinum in 30 individuals (41.7%) of whom 17 (23.6%) were later culture positive. Culture-independent detection revealed the presence of M.marinum in 16 of 83 environmental samples (19.3%) collected in aquaria.
The presence of viable M.marinum cells was later confirmed in 5 samples (6.0%). No qPCR or culture positivity was observed when 123 groundwater fish and their corresponding environmental samples (n=142) were analysed.