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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #117394
Title: A UNIQUE MYCOBACTERIUM SP. RESEMBLING MYCOBACTERIUM MARINUM AND MYCOBACTERIUM ULCERANS ISOLATED FROM STRIPED BASS (MORONE SAXATILIS)

Author
item RHODES, MARTHA - VI OF MARINE SCIENCE
item KATOR, HOWARD - VI OF MARINE SCIENCE
item KOTOB, SHAABAN - VI OF MARINE SCIENCE
item Van Berkum, Peter
item KAATTARI, ILSA - VI OF MARINE SCIENCE
item VOGELBEIN, WOLFGANG - VI OF MARINE SCIENCE
item FLOYD, MARGARET - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item BUTLER, RAY - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item QUINN, FRED - CDC, ATLANTA, GA
item OTTINGER, CHRISTOPHER - USGS, W. VIRGINIA

Submitted to: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: There is increasing concern over the integrity and the biodiversity of the Atlantic Coast and the Chesapeake Bay habitats. Mycobacteriosis is a disease of fish caused by bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium. This disease has occurred in striped bass of the Chesapeake Bay. Such outbreaks of disease in fish of the Chesapeake Bay is of concern because the causative agent of mycobacteriosis also can infect human beings and lead to illness. We isolated a new mycobacterial species. Since this is a new bacterial species its potential to cause disease in humans is unknown. The concern is that humans may be exposed to this new species through recreational activities on the Bay. At this time this information will be useful for scientists to further characterize these new bacterial species and to examine their potential for causing disease in humans.

Technical Abstract: We report the isolation of a Mycobacterial sp. resembling Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium ulcerans from diseased striped bass (Morone saxatilis) during an epizootic of mycobacteriosis in the Chesapeake Bay. This isolate may represent a new species based on phenotypic characteristics, mycolic acid pattern and 16S rRNA gene sequence. Considering the potential of known aquatic mycobacteria to cause disease in humans and the heightened potential for recreational exposure, the current epizootic could have public health significance.