CETACEAN NOCARDIOSIS

Nocardial infection is the basis of a number of animal diseases (Pier, 1962, Proc. U.S. Livestock San. Assoc.: 409416). While the vast majority of reported nonhuman cases of nocardiosis have involved terrestrial mammals, infrequent reports of piscatorial disease involving rainbow trout, golden shiners and neon tetras have been made (Conroy, 1964, Vet. Rec. 76: 676; Snieszko, et al., lc64, J. Bact. 88: 1809-1810). Nocardia astereides has been the primary agent of nocardiosis in lower animals. Nocardia brasiliemisis and Nucardia cas’iae, while infrequently reported in the veterinary literature, are considered species of medical importance (Pier, 1962, Proc. U.S. Livestock San. Assoc.: 409-416; Gordon, and Mihm, 1962, Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci. 98: 628-636). All three organisms have been isolated from soil, but to the authors’ knowledge only N. asteroides has been reported as a pathogen of aquatic animals.