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An outbreak of granulomatous inflammation associated with Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis in farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) in China

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Abstract

In 2013, a novel disease was detected in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) in Guangzhou, South China. To identify the causative pathogen, we conducted histological examination, bacteria isolation, and purification, and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene of isolates. Infected fish had a large number of white granulomas in the kidney, liver, heart, and spleen. The head kidney and spleen were markedly swollen. A bacterium strain designated as gz201301 was recovered from the spleen of infected tilapia. The 16S rRNA sequence of gz201301 revealed that it was highly similar to F. noatunensis subsp. orientalis. This is the first report of a Francisella-like infection in farmed tilapia in China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510380, China

    Qiang Lin  (林强), Ningqiu Li  (李宁求), Xiaozhe Fu  (付小哲), Qiandong Hu  (胡钱东), Ouqin Chang  (常藕琴), Lihui Liu  (刘礼辉), Defeng Zhang  (张德锋), Guangjun Wang  (王广军) & Shuqin Wu  (吴淑勤)

  2. Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Qiang Lin  (林强), Ningqiu Li  (李宁求), Xiaozhe Fu  (付小哲), Lihui Liu  (刘礼辉), Defeng Zhang  (张德锋) & Shuqin Wu  (吴淑勤)

  3. Panyu District Agricultural Science Research Institute, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 511450, China

    Guibao San  (伞桂宝)

Authors
  1. Qiang Lin  (林强)
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  2. Ningqiu Li  (李宁求)
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  3. Xiaozhe Fu  (付小哲)
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  4. Qiandong Hu  (胡钱东)
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  5. Ouqin Chang  (常藕琴)
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  6. Lihui Liu  (刘礼辉)
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  7. Defeng Zhang  (张德锋)
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  8. Guangjun Wang  (王广军)
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  9. Guibao San  (伞桂宝)
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  10. Shuqin Wu  (吴淑勤)
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ningqiu Li  (李宁求) or Shuqin Wu  (吴淑勤).

Additional information

Supported by the Pearl River Science & Technology Nova Program of Guangzhou City (No. 2012J2200078) and the Marine Fishery Science & Technology Promotion Project of Guangdong Provinces (No. A201301B06)

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Lin, Q., Li, N., Fu, X. et al. An outbreak of granulomatous inflammation associated with Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis in farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) in China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 34, 460–466 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-4311-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-016-4311-2

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