Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2-2006
Journal
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume
72
Issue
2
First Page
1551
Last Page
1557
Abstract
The pathogenic oomycete Aphanomyces invadans is the primary etiological agent in ulcerative mycosis, an ulcerative skin disease caused by a fungus-like agent of wild and cultured fish. We developed sensitive PCR and fluorescent peptide nucleic acid in situ hybridization (FISH) assays to detect A. invadans. Laboratory-challenged killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) were first tested to optimize and validate the assays. Skin ulcers of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) from populations found in the Pamlico and Neuse River estuaries in North Carolina were then surveyed. Results from both assays indicated that all of the lesioned menhaden (n = 50) collected in September 2004 were positive for A. invadans. Neither the FISH assay nor the PCR assay cross-reacted with other closely related oomycetes. These results provided strong evidence that A. invadans is the primary oomycete pathogen in ulcerative mycosis and demonstrated the utility of the assays. The FISH assay is the first molecular assay to provide unambiguous visual confirmation that hyphae in the ulcerated lesions were exclusively A. invadans.
DOI
10.1128/AEM.72.2.1551-1557.2006
Keywords
Menhaden Brevoortia-Tyrannus; Peptide Nucleic-Acid; Red Spot Disease; Atlantic Menhaden; Pfiesteria-Piscicida
Recommended Citation
Vandersea, MW; Litaker, RW; Yonnish,, B; al, et; Kator, H; and al, et, Molecular assays for detecting Aphanomyces invadans in ulcerative mycotic fish lesions (2006). Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72(2), 1551-1557.
10.1128/AEM.72.2.1551-1557.2006
Included in
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons
