Improved Growth Media for Isolation and Identification of Fish Pathogenic <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp.

Improved Growth Media for Isolation and Identification of Fish Pathogenic <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp.

Standard blood agar medium with 2% NaCl (BAS) and Marine Agar (MA) are commonly used in bacteriological investigations of winter ulcers in farmed Atlantic salmon (<i>Salmo salar</i> Linnaeus) in Norway and allow easy recovery of <i>Moritella viscosa</i> based on its character...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erwan Lagadec, Ingeborg Emilie Berg Kahrs, Kathleen Frisch, Henrik Duesund, Are Nylund, Sverre Bang Småge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Atlantic salmon
<i>Tenacibaculum</i>
tenacibaculosis
winter ulcers
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1567
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Standard blood agar medium with 2% NaCl (BAS) and Marine Agar (MA) are commonly used in bacteriological investigations of winter ulcers in farmed Atlantic salmon (<i>Salmo salar</i> Linnaeus) in Norway and allow easy recovery of <i>Moritella viscosa</i> based on its characteristic viscous colonies and β-hemolytic activity. However, the recent increase in cases of winter ulcers involving <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp. and the potential emergence of <i>T. maritimum</i> due to rising temperatures highlight the need for improved methods of isolation and identification. Indeed, the recovery of <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp. from outbreaks of winter ulcers or tenacibaculosis can be challenging. Despite the development of several agar media over the years to overcome this issue, such as <i>Flexibacter maritimus</i> medium (FMM), it remains difficult to differentiate <i>Tenacibaculum</i> species. We evaluated the growth dynamics and phenotypic characteristics of 13 bacterial isolates commonly associated with ulcer outbreaks on five different agar media, including two new formulations: kanamycin-supplemented marine blood agar for the selective isolation of <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp. (KABAMA) and general blood agar for marine bacteria (BAMA). These new media facilitate the identification of <i>Tenacibaculum</i> spp., including <i>T. maritimum</i>, by distinguishing colonies based on their specific color, shape, and hemolytic activity.
ISSN:2076-2607

Similar Items