Biochemical identification of pathogenic bacteria isolates of ornamental fish in the state of Amazon

Abstract

Ornamental fish in the Amazon are largely exported to the major centers of distribution and sale of ornamental fish in the world located in the EUA, Japan and Germany and at least eight species stand out as major. These species are collected in the medium and upper Rio Negro, in the municipality of Barcelos, in the state of Amazonas, which accounts for about 70% of exports of ornamental fish from Brazil and generating annual revenues of more than $ 6 million. Because of this intense ornamental fish trade in the region, importers of fish from the Amazon have questioned the sanity of these animals against microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses that cause disease in these animals. Bacterial and viral diseases can occur in all species of fish maintained under conditions of exploitation and causing diseases and significant economic losses. Our goal was to verify the occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in ornamental fishes exported from the state of Amazonas. Biochemical characterization of bacteria isolated from five species of ornamental fish allowed the identification of genus (Staphylococcus, Nocardia, Acinetobacter and Lactococcus) important pathogens causing mortalities in marine and freshwater fish. While Amazon is great biodiversity, few studies to investigate this complexity, mainly related to the presence of pathogens causing bacteria on ornamental fish. The results demonstrate the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria or with acting pathogenic potential in different species of ornamental fish marketed and exported from the state of Amazonas.