Abstract
Infectious diseases represent a limiting factor for the further development of Italian aquaculture. The recent introduction and spreading of new pathogens, along with the global climatic change, has contributed to a considerable decrease in trout production. Emerging pathologies in rainbow trout culture include viral diseases, e.g. infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), bacterial diseases, such as lactococcosis and visceral flavobacteriosis, and parasitical diseases, e.g. proliferative kidney disease (PKD). Higher mortality rates in trout fry and fingerlings are generally induced by visceral flavobacteriosis and IHN, while the main losses in large trout during the warm season are due to lactococcosis and PKD. Mariculture has at present a better sanitary status compared to trout culture, but a rapid dissemination of pathogens, including zoonosis agents, is envisaged also for seabass and seabream. Emerging pathologies in sea bass include VNN, pseudotuberculosis, streptococcosis and tuberculosis. Seabream is much more resistant and is mainly affected by novel Vibrio infections and enteromyxidiosis. A good sanitary management of fish farms is essential for avoiding or limiting losses caused by emerging pathologies. Transmission of zoonosis agents to man, through the consumption of cultured fish, is very remote in Italy. On the contrary, transmission of Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio vulnificus and Mycobacterium marinum by means of improper manipulation of infected fish, could represent a potential hazard for fish farmers and fish processors, as well as for people preparing fish meals.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Austin, B. and Austin, D.B., 1999. Bacterial Fish Pathogens: Disease in Farmed and Eild Fish, (Ellis Horwood, Chichester, England)
Bercovier, H., Ghittino, C. and Eldar, A., 1997. Immunization with bacterial antigens: infections with cocci and related organisms. In: R. Gudding, A. Lillehaug, P.J. Midtlyng and F. Brown (eds), Fish Vaccinology, Development of Biological Standardization, 90, 153–160
Canning, E.U., Tops, S., Curry, A., Wood, T.S. and Okamura, B., 2002. Ecology, development and pathogenicity of Buddenbrockia plumatellae Schroeder, 1910 (Myxozoa, Malacosporea) (syn. Tetracapsula bryozoides) and establishment of Tetracapsuloides n. gen. for Tetracapsula bryosalmonae. Journal of EukaryoticMicrobiology, 49, 280–295
Eldar, A. and Ghittino, C., 1999. Lactococcus garvieae and Streptococcus iniae infections in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: similar, but different diseases. Disease of Aquatic Organisms, 36, 227–231
Ghittino, C., 1999. Studies on Gram-positive cocci infections in fish, with emphasis on their implication as zoonosis agents. Uunpublished thesis, University of Parma, Italy
Ghittino, C., 2002. Survey on the distribution of fish Mycobacterioses and their relevant anatomo-histopathological features. Unpublished thesis, University of Padua, Italy
Ghittino, C. and Bozzetta, E., 1994. Prophylaxis of zoonoses of fish origin. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 7, 5–6
Ghittino, C. and Pedroni, A., 2001. Main bacterial pathologies in salmonid fish: diagnosis, therapy and prevention. In: G. Baruchelli (ed.), Modern Trout Farming, (Trento, Italy), ESAT news, 17, 4 suppl., 41–56
Ghittino, C., Arfara, S. and Prearo, M., 1993. Fish Pasteurellosis in Greece. Bulletin, Italian Society of Fish Pathology, 11, 11–20
Ghittino, C., Colorni, A. and Sanz, F., 1994. Main pathologies in temperate mariculture. Poster, Nutreco Aquaculture, Boxmeer, Holland
Ghittino, P., 1983. Technology and Pathology in Aquaculture, vol. 1, (Bono, Turin, Italy)
Ghittino, P., 1985. Technology and Pathology in Aquaculture, vol. 2, (Bono, Turin, Italy)
Ghittino, P., Ghittino, C., Bootsma, R. and Dessalle, F., 1988. Diagnosis and control of the main diseases of cultured trout. Poster, Trouw International, Putten, Holland
Marin, M., Castagnaro, M. and Ghittino, C., 1992. Proliferative kidney disease in salmonids. Veterinary Objectives and Documents, 6, 25–30
OIE, 2000. DiagnosticManual for Aquatic Animal Diseases, 3rd edn, (OIE, Paris)
OIE, 2002. International Auatic Animal Health Code, 5th edn, (OIE, Paris)
Okamura, B. and Wood, T.S., 2002. Bryozoans as hosts for Tetracapsula bryosalmonae, the PKX organism. Journal of Fish Diseases, 25, 469–475
Palanzuela, O., Redondo, M.J. and Alvarez-Pellitero, P., 2002. Description of Enteromyxum scophthalmi gen. nov., sp. nov. (Myxozoa), an intestinal parasite of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) using morphological and ribosomal RNA sequence data. Parasitology, 124, 369–379
Pattono, D., Bozzetta, E., Prearo, M., Rogato, F., Gilmozzi, M. and Ghittino, C., 1997. Cases of parasitic enteritis in gilthead seabream intensively cultured in Italy. Bulletin, Italian Society of Fish Pathology, 21, 13–19
Pavoletti, E., Prearo, M., Ghittino, M. and Ghittino, C., 1998. Cases of viral encephalo-retinopathy in shy drum (Umbrina cirrosa), with description of clinic symptomatology and anatomo-histopathological features. Bulletin, Italian Society of Fish Pathology, 23, 24–33
Roberts, R.J., 2001. Fish Pathology, 3rd edn, (Baillière Tindall, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ghittino, C., Latini, M., Agnetti, F. et al. Emerging Pathologies in Aquaculture: Effects on Production and Food Safety. Vet Res Commun 27 (Suppl 1), 471–479 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:VERC.0000014204.37722.b6
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:VERC.0000014204.37722.b6