Detection of Mycobacteriosis in Semnan ornamental fish using PCR

Fish mycobacteriosis which called fish tuberculosis is one of the most important chronic disease of fresh water and marine fishes especially anabantidae, characidae and cyprinidae families. Clinical signs including: emaciation, color loss, cutaneous shallow and/or deep ulcers and visceral white nodules. Common species that cause fish mycobacteriosis are: M. marinum M.fortuitum, M.neoaurum, M.chelonae. Fish tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease that called fish tank granuloma or pool granuloma .This survey was carried out to investigate the mycobacterial infection of ornamental fish of Semnan using PCR. For this purpose 150 fish of 5 different species (guppy, gourami, goldfish, platy and sword tail), 30 pieces of each one, were randomly obtained from aquarium shops in Semnan and transferred alive to the laboratory. kidney, liver and spleen samples were collected. After DNA extraction, 360bp partial primer was used to identify the rpoB gene. Mycobacterial infections in 31 specimens out of 150 samples were detected. The result of this survey illustrates that Semnan ornamental fish are infected by fish mycobacteriosis, due to the zoonotic risk, it is so important to the public health.

Keywords:

Aquarium fish , Mycobacterium , Mycobacteriosis , PCR , Semnan