Emergence of epizootic ulcerative syndrome in native fish of the Murray-Darling River System, Australia: hosts, distribution and possible vectors

Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is a fish disease of international significance and reportable to the Office International des Epizootics. In June 2010, bony herring Nematalosa erebi, golden perch Macquaria ambigua, Murray cod Maccullochella peelii and spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PloS one Vol. 7; no. 4; p. e35568
Main Authors:	Boys, Craig A, Rowland, Stuart J, Gabor, Melinda, Gabor, Les, Marsh, Ian B, Hum, Steven, Callinan, Richard B
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 25-04-2012 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Animals Aphanomyces astaci Aphanomyces invadans Aquaculture Australia - epidemiology Biology Biosecurity Carp Cyprinus carpio Diagnostic tests Disease Disease resistance Disease Vectors Earth Sciences Ecosystems Environmental factors Epizootics Fish Fish diseases Fish Diseases - epidemiology Fish Diseases - transmission Fish populations Fisheries management Fishes Gangrene Histochemistry Histocytochemistry Histopathology Infection - epidemiology Infection - genetics Infection - transmission Infection - veterinary Laboratories Leiopotherapon unicolor Maccullochella peelii Macquaria ambigua Nematalosa erebi Nonnative species Oomycetes - pathogenicity Oomycetes - physiology Pathogenicity Pathogens Phylogeography Polymerase chain reaction Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary R&D Research & development Risk assessment Rivers Syndrome Ulcer - epidemiology Ulcer - genetics Ulcer - veterinary Ulcers Vectors Veterinary Science Australia
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Summary:	Epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is a fish disease of international significance and reportable to the Office International des Epizootics. In June 2010, bony herring Nematalosa erebi, golden perch Macquaria ambigua, Murray cod Maccullochella peelii and spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor with severe ulcers were sampled from the Murray-Darling River System (MDRS) between Bourke and Brewarrina, New South Wales Australia. Histopathology and polymerase chain reaction identified the fungus-like oomycete Aphanomyces invadans, the causative agent of EUS. Apart from one previous record in N. erebi, EUS has been recorded in the wild only from coastal drainages in Australia. This study is the first published account of A. invadans in the wild fish populations of the MDRS, and is the first confirmed record of EUS in M. ambigua, M. peelii and L. unicolor. Ulcerated carp Cyprinus carpio collected at the time of the same epizootic were not found to be infected by EUS, supporting previous accounts of resistance against the disease by this species. The lack of previous clinical evidence, the large number of new hosts (n = 3), the geographic extent (200 km) of this epizootic, the severity of ulceration and apparent high pathogenicity suggest a relatively recent invasion by A. invadans. The epizootic and associated environmental factors are documented and discussed within the context of possible vectors for its entry into the MDRS and recommendations regarding continued surveillance, research and biosecurity are made.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Current address: Pre Clinical Safety, Novartis Animal Health Australia, Yarrandoo, Kemps Creek, New South Wales, Australia Conceived and designed the experiments: CAB. Performed the experiments: CAB MG LG SH IM. Analyzed the data: CAB MG LG SH IM. Wrote the paper: CAB SR MG LG SH IM RC.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0035568