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Vol. 38 No. 2, 1999
Studies on Epizootiology and Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus epidermidis in Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Cultured in Taiwan
Shih-Ling Huang1,2, Wei-Cheng Chen1, Mei-Chuan Shei1, I-Chiu Liao3 and Shiu-Nan Chen2,*
1Lukang Branch, Taiwan Fisheries Research Institute, Changhua, Taiwan 505
2Department of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106
3Taiwan Fisheries Research Institute, Keelung, Taiwan 202
Shih-Ling Huang, Wei-Cheng Chen, Mei-Chuan Shei, I-Chiu Liao and Shiu-Nan Chen (1999) This
paper describes the epizootiology of a disease of tilapia with clinical
signs that include white nodules and microscopic granulomatous
formations. Diseased fish showed splenomegaly with diffusion of
numerous white nodules. The most severe lesions were presented in the
spleen and anterior kidney. Morphological, biological, and biochemical
characteristics of microorganisms isolated from the diseased tilapia
were examined and classified by Baird-Parker’s biochemical subgrouping
scheme. Strain LK0728 identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis,
was used in a challenge test. Histopathological changes were similar to
those seen in naturally infected fish. This is the 1st report on the
isolation of staphylococci pathogenic to tilapia and on the confirms
the etiological agent causing mass mortality in tilapia from 1992 to
1996 in Taiwan.
Key words: Granuloma, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pathogenicity, Electron-dense particles.
*Correspondence: Tel: 886-2-23687101. Fax: 886-2-23687122
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