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First report of Fusarium oxysporum species complex infection in zebrafish culturing system
Author(s) -
Kulatunga D C M,
Dananjaya S H S,
Park B K,
Kim CH,
Lee J,
De Zoysa M
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/jfd.12529
Subject(s) - fusarium oxysporum , zebrafish , biology , danio , hypha , fungus , mycelium , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , internal transcribed spacer , botany , ribosomal rna , genetics , gene
Abstract Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) is a highly diverse fungus. Recently, F. oxysporum infection was identified from zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) culturing system in Korea. Initially, a rapid whitish smudge was appeared in the water with the fungal blooming on walls of fish tanks. Microscopic studies were conducted on fungal hyphae, colony pigmentation and chlamydospore formation and the presence of macro‐ and microspores confirmed that the isolated fungus as F. oxysporum . Furthermore, isolated F. oxysporum was confirmed by internal transcribed spacer sequencing which matched (100%) to nine F. oxysporum sequences available in GenBank. Experimental hypodermic injection of F. oxysporum into adult zebrafish showed the development of fungal mycelium and pathogenicity similar to signs observed. Histopathologic results revealed a presence of F. oxysporum hyphae in zebrafish muscle. Fusarium oxysporum growth was increased with sea salt in a concentration‐dependent manner. Antifungal susceptibility results revealed that F. oxysporum is resistant to copper sulphate (up to 200 μg mL −1 ) and sensitive to nystatin (up to 40 μg mL −1 ). This is the first report of FOSC from zebrafish culture system, suggesting it appears as an emerging pathogen, thus posing a significant risk on zebrafish facilities in the world.