Journal of aquatic animal health最新文献

{"title":"Computed Tomographic Assessment of Hooking-Related Injuries in Recreationally Angled Blue Marlin","authors":"Emma L. Houck,&nbsp;Eli B. Cohen,&nbsp;Craig A. Harms,&nbsp;Brendan J. Runde,&nbsp;Paul J. Rudershausen,&nbsp;Jeffrey A. Buckel","doi":"10.1002/aah.10145","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10145","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Acute morbidity and mortality of marlins (family Istiophoridae) in hook-and-line fisheries have been studied; however, there has been little or no investigation of the skeletal injuries incurred from terminal tackles that could lead to decreased rates of postrelease survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate skeletal injuries in recreationally angled Atlantic Blue Marlin <i>Makaira nigricans</i> from the 2019 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina. We examined heads of six Blue Marlin that were angled using artificial lures rigged with J-hooks and harvested for weigh-in. The head of each Blue Marlin was scanned using computed tomography (CT) and examined with gross dissection. The CT interpretation revealed that two Blue Marlin had minimally displaced fractures of the maxilla, one of which also had a fracture to the lachrymal bone. These radiographic lesions were associated with penetrating hook injuries. The CT images also revealed degenerative changes within the quadrate-articular joint in four Blue Marlin, which was associated with fish weight; the causes and consequences of these degenerative changes are unknown. Although the hooking-related jaw fractures likely result in acute pain, their impact on postrelease morbidity is unknown and the impact on postrelease mortality is suspected to be small.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"34 1","pages":"20-27"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39859346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Largemouth Bass Virus on Bass Populations in Kansas Impoundments","authors":"Vanessa Salazar,&nbsp;Jeff D. Koch,&nbsp;Ben C. Neely,&nbsp;Christopher J. Steffen,&nbsp;Ernesto Flores,&nbsp;Susan F. Steffen","doi":"10.1002/aah.10147","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10147","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Largemouth Bass virus (LMBV) first became a concern in Kansas when it was identified as a potential cause of decreased catch rates at Crawford State Fishing Lake in 2007. The discovery of LMBV in eight additional impoundments from 2008 to 2017 increased concern about the prevalence and effects of LMBV in Kansas. In response, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism tested 25 Largemouth Bass <i>Micropterus salmoides</i> impoundments for the presence of LMBV. The objectives of this study were to quantify the incidence of LMBV and examine differences in population metrics (i.e., body condition, relative abundance, and growth). A total of 1,260 Largemouth Bass were collected by using standard spring electrofishing surveys, and sagittal otoliths were collected from all of the sampled fish to estimate growth rates. Of the 25 study impoundments, 14 tested positive for LMBV. There was no evidence of LMBV effects on body condition, relative abundance of quality-length fish, or growth rates. The initial dates of LMBV infection of Largemouth Bass in these impoundments are unknown. The LMBV-positive populations in Kansas may have been exposed to the virus many years ago, and the fish may be in the process of rebounding from any potential negative effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"34 1","pages":"38-44"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39828342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Farm-Level Cost Drivers of Salmonid Fish Health Inspections","authors":"Carole Engle,&nbsp;Jonathan van Senten,&nbsp;Michael Schwarz,&nbsp;Kathleen Hartman,&nbsp;Lori Gustafson,&nbsp;Kamina Johnson,&nbsp;Lynn Creekmore","doi":"10.1002/aah.10139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10139","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Regulatory costs on aquaculture farms have been shown to be of a magnitude that warrants additional analysis. The drivers of farm-level costs of fish health inspections were identified in this study from national survey data on U.S. salmonid farms. The greatest costs identified were related primarily to state fish health requirements for inspection and testing to certify that fish are free of specific pathogens prior to approval of necessary permits to sell and/or transport animals. Fish health inspection costs included laboratory testing, farm personnel time, veterinary fees, and shipping samples to laboratories, with laboratory testing and the value of farm personnel time being the most expensive components. Principal cost drivers were the number of tests and whether required sampling was farmwide or for each lot as identified by the collector. Farmers who primarily sold into recreational markets had greater fish health costs than farmers who primarily sold food fish because of the greater numbers of species and size-/age-classes of salmonids on their farms. Regulatory requirements to test all species and size-/age-classes on farms increased inspection costs by increasing the total number of tests, the total value of fish sacrificed, and shipping costs. Consequently, for farms with more than one species or more than one size-/age-class, annual farm-level testing was less costly than annual lot-based testing. Increased numbers of tests in a given year, although reported by only a few respondents, can increase costs dramatically and turn profitable farms unprofitable, even food fish farms. Smaller salmonid farms experienced disproportionately greater inspection cost burdens than did larger farms. The fish health inspection scenario of only one annual inspection of only the most susceptible species and size-/age-class showed a cost burden that did not generate economic distress, even on smaller salmonid farms. Other scenarios modeled (based on survey data) that included lot-based surveys of multiple species and size-/age-classes resulted in substantially greater fish health inspection costs that led to unprofitability for various farm sizes and business types. Study results suggest that implementing Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards might allow for risk- and pathogen-based reductions in the total number of inspections and fish sampled while maintaining equivalent or greater health status compared to current methods. American Fisheries Society–Fish Health Section Blue Book inspection methods are interpreted and applied inconsistently across states and generally yield lot- rather than farm-level health attestations because the history of testing results, risk assessment, and biosecurity practices are not typically taken into account. The cost effects of alternative fish health sampling and testing requirements should be considered in decisions and policy on fish health regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 4","pages":"199-219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39549046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High Occurrence of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Green Sea Turtles Chelonia mydas with and without Fibropapillomatosis in Feeding Areas of the São Paulo Coast, Brazil","authors":"Roberta Ramblas Zamana,&nbsp;Marco Aurélio Gattamorta,&nbsp;Pablo Felipe Cruz Ochoa,&nbsp;Pedro Enrique Navas-Suárez,&nbsp;Carlos Sacristán,&nbsp;Silmara Rossi,&nbsp;José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho,&nbsp;Isabela Santos Silva,&nbsp;Eliana Reiko Matushima","doi":"10.1002/aah.10142","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10142","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) has been consistently associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP), a neoplastic disease that affects sea turtles globally. The DNA of ChHV5 has been detected in cutaneous and noncutaneous tissues (e.g., lung) of green sea turtles <i>Chelonia mydas</i> with (FP+) and without (FP−) clinical signs of FP, indicating a persistent ChHV5 infection. Previously published and custom primer pairs were used to amplify the fragments of ChHV5 unique long (UL) partial genes (UL30 and UL18) through end-point PCR from cutaneous tumors (<i>n</i> = 31), nontumored skin (<i>n</i> = 49), and lungs (<i>n</i> = 26) from FP+ (<i>n</i> = 31) and FP− (<i>n</i> = 18) green sea turtles. The DNA of ChHV5 was detected in cutaneous tumors (80.6%, 25/31), nontumored skin (74.2%, 23/31 FP+; 27.8%, 5/18 FP−), and lung samples (91.7%, 11/12 FP+; 100%, 14/14 FP−). The high occurrence of ChHV5 observed in lung samples from FP− individuals was unexpected (14/14), providing the first evidence of ChHV5 DNA presence in lungs of individuals without FP. Our results also revealed high ChHV5 occurrence among the tested cohort (93.9%, 46/49) and suggested that a large proportion (83.4%, 15/18) of FP− green sea turtles had subclinical ChHV5 infections. Hence, our findings support the hypothesis that ChHV5 requires one or more possibly environmental or immune-related co-factors to induce FP.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 4","pages":"252-263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39507004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a Multiplex Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization Assay to Identify Coinfections in Young-of-the-Year Smallmouth Bass","authors":"Heather L. Walsh,&nbsp;Vicki S. Blazer,&nbsp;Patricia M. Mazik","doi":"10.1002/aah.10144","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10144","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Histopathological assessments of young‐of‐the‐year (age‐0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu in the Susquehanna River drainage identified a high prevalence of the myxozoan Myxobolus inornatus. This myxozoan infects the connective tissue of the muscle below the skin but is sometimes observed in the esophagus and buccal cavity. In some instances, shallow infections cause breaks in the skin, which could increase the chance of opportunistic bacterial infections. Several microbial pathogens, including Flavobacterium columnare, Aeromonas spp., and Largemouth Bass virus, have also been cultured from clinically diseased young of year. A multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was developed to determine potential colocalization of M. inornatus, Flavobacterium spp., and Aeromonas spp. infections. With FISH, 75% of age‐0 Smallmouth Bass exhibited M. inornatus infections, 10% had Aeromonas spp. infections, and 5% had Flavobacterium spp. infections, while 3% had coinfections with both bacterial species and M. inornatus. The results of the multiplex FISH assay revealed a low occurrence of coinfections of Flavobacterium spp. and/or Aeromonas spp. with M. inornatus in randomly sampled individuals.","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"34 1","pages":"12-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9293417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39497581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Establishment of an Optimal Protocol for Contrast-Enhanced Micro-Computed Tomography in the Cloudy Catshark Scyliorhinus torazame","authors":"Takaomi Ito,&nbsp;Masaru Furuya,&nbsp;Kazumi Sasai","doi":"10.1002/aah.10143","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10143","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal imaging protocol for contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) using micro-CT (μ-CT) for the posterior cardinal vein (PCV), dorsal aorta (DA), hepatic portal vein (HPV), kidney, liver, cephalic arteries (CAs), and gills of Cloudy Catsharks <i>Scyliorhinus torazame</i>. Additionally, we examined the availability of CECT screening for the coelomic organs. Different doses of iopamidol (100, 300, 500, and 700 mg iodine [mgI]/kg) were administered intravenously for 20 s in six sharks. The CT scans from the pectoral girdle to the pelvic girdle were performed at 0–600 s after administration. Contrast-enhanced CT imaging of the CAs, gills, and coelomic organs was examined. Assessment of the signal enhancement value revealed that the PCV was easily visualized with all contrast doses at 25 s. The CAs, gills, and DA were visible at a slightly higher dose (CAs and gills: 200 mgI/kg at 40 s; DA: 300 mgI/kg at 50 s). The HPV was obvious at a dose of at least 500 mgI/kg after a 150-s delay. The parenchyma of the kidney had a contrast effect at 300 mgI/kg, 150 s after the contrast effect of the renal portal system disappeared. The liver, which stores a lot of lipids, had poor overall contrast enhancement that was optimized at the highest dose of 700 mgI/kg. Contrast-enhanced CT screening at 700 mgI/kg and 150 s is likely to obtain the optimal imaging of the reproductive organs, such as the ovary, oviducal gland, uterus, and testis. The present findings can be applied not only to clinical practice but also to academic research and education on elasmobranchs in aquariums.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 4","pages":"264-276"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39287938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Pathogenic Pseudomonas alcaligenes Isolated from Koi Carp in China","authors":"Jie Bai,&nbsp;Yian Huo,&nbsp;Xiucai Hu,&nbsp;Aijun Lü,&nbsp;Jingfeng Sun","doi":"10.1002/aah.10141","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10141","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Pseudomonas alcaligenes</i> infection is rare in aquaculture. In this study, we provide the first report on the characterization of <i>P. alcaligenes</i> from koi (a variant of Common Carp <i>Cyprinus carpio</i>) in China. A gram-negative bacterium was isolated from the diseased koi and was named KCP-516. Morphological and biochemical tests as well as phylogenetic tree analyses derived from 16S ribosomal RNA, gyrase subunit A, and gyrase subunit B gene sequencing all strongly indicated that the isolate KCP-516 was <i>P. alcaligenes</i>. In liquid medium, the optimal growth conditions were 25°C, 2.5% NaCl, and pH 8. The pathogenicity of the isolate was demonstrated in koi, with 7.0 × 10⁴ CFU/g fish weight identified as the dose lethal to 50% of test fish. The results will provide a scientific reference for the diagnosis and treatment of <i>P. alcaligenes</i> infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 4","pages":"243-251"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/aah.10141","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39259050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Vivo Experiments Provide Evidence That Flavobacterium psychrophilum Strains Belonging to Multilocus Sequence Typing Clonal Complex ST191 Are Virulent to Rainbow Trout","authors":"Christopher Knupp,&nbsp;Mohamed Faisal,&nbsp;Gregory D. Wiens,&nbsp;Travis O. Brenden,&nbsp;Thomas P. Loch","doi":"10.1002/aah.10140","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Flavobacterium psychrophilum</i>, the causative agent of bacterial coldwater disease (BCWD), causes significant economic losses worldwide, particularly in farmed Rainbow Trout <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>. Over the last decade, multilocus sequence typing has revealed &gt;30 clonal complexes (CCs) globally, comprised of &gt;320 <i>F. psychrophilum</i> sequence types (STs). Despite the large number of CCs worldwide, CC-ST10, which is currently the largest CC affecting Rainbow Trout, has been the primary focus of <i>F. psychrophilum</i> virulence studies, leaving the role of other CCs as primary causes of BCWD epizootics unclear. To this end, fingerling Rainbow Trout were experimentally challenged with <i>F. psychrophilum</i> strains belonging to the CC now recognized as the second largest in the world (CC-ST191) alongside CC-ST10 strains. Cumulative percent mortality was 100% in 7-month-old Rainbow Trout and between 27.8% and 61.1% in 8-month-old Rainbow Trout. All examined <i>F. psychrophilum</i> STs were virulent to Rainbow Trout, and no significant differences in virulence between CC-ST10 and CC-ST191 were detected. Due to their wide distribution and high pathogenic potential, both CC-ST191 and CC-ST10 <i>F. psychrophilum</i> strains are excellent candidates for further research aimed at preventing and controlling BCWD.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 3","pages":"190-195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/aah.10140","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39205958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary Investigations into Use of Metomidate for Euthanasia of Ornamental Fishes","authors":"Roy P. E. Yanong","doi":"10.1002/aah.10127","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10127","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The goals of this study were to investigate the potential use of metomidate for one-step euthanasia of ornamental fish species representing commonly sold families in the ornamental fish trade and to determine a baseline euthanasia dose for most species tested. Metomidate hydrochloride, a rapid-acting, water-soluble, nonbarbiturate hypnotic related to etomidate, was tested at various concentrations and durations for euthanasia of species representing the following freshwater and marine aquarium fish families: Apogonidae, Ariidae, Blenniidae, Callichthyidae, Characidae, Cichlidae, Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Gyrinocheilidae, Loricariidae, Melanotaeniidae, Osphronemidae, Pimelodidae, Poeciliidae, Pomacentridae, and Pseudochromidae. Fish in each trial were euthanized as a group (<i>n</i> = 1). Most groups contained 10–12 fish. Some higher doses required buffering. Euthanasia was considered successful if all fish in each group did not recover after 6 h in unmedicated water. All species immediately lost buoyancy and equilibrium, dropping to the tank bottom within 1 min and ceasing ventilation typically within minutes. However, reactivity to vibration, sound, or touch was noticeable for varying time periods afterward (8–66 min), so an additional 30 min of exposure after cessation of reactivity was included as part of the protocol. Although some species (Neon Tetras <i>Paracheirodon innesi</i> and Australian Rainbowfish <i>Melanotaenia australis</i>) were euthanized at a concentration of 40 mg/L metomidate for a total exposure time of 38 min, most species tested were successfully euthanized with metomidate at a concentration of 100 mg/L, with total exposure times ranging from 35–96 min. A few catfish species (<i>Otocinclus</i> sp. and Bronze Corydoras <i>Corydoras aeneus</i>) were refractory and recovered after 100 mg/L. However, <i>Otocinclus</i> sp. were successfully euthanized at 250 mg/L, and Bronze Corydoras were euthanized at 1,000 mg/L. Further studies are needed to provide additional data for these and other species and families, for different water chemistry conditions, and for various biological factors to fine-tune dosing regimens.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 3","pages":"133-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/aah.10127","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39148658","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Use of Bacteriophages and Immunological Monitoring for the Treatment of a Case of Chronic Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta","authors":"Whitney Greene,&nbsp;Benjamin Chan,&nbsp;Erin Bromage,&nbsp;Julianne H. Grose,&nbsp;Cathy Walsh,&nbsp;Kaitlyn Kortright,&nbsp;Sue Forrest,&nbsp;Grace Perry,&nbsp;Lynne Byrd,&nbsp;M. Andrew Stamper","doi":"10.1002/aah.10130","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aah.10130","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this case study, phage therapy was applied to treat a multidrug-resistant case of septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD) caused by <i>Citrobacter freundii</i> in a loggerhead sea turtle <i>Caretta caretta</i>. Phages were applied topically, intravenously, into the carapace, and into the exhibit water using various phage cocktails specific to the causative agent over an 8-month period. This was performed in conjunction with antimicrobial therapy. The animal was monitored through weekly cultures, photographs, and complete blood cell counts, as well as immune assays (phagocytosis, plasma lysozyme and superoxide dismutase activity, and plasma electrophoresis profiles). The animal, in comparison to an untreated, unaffected control, had elevated antibody titers to the administered phages, which persisted for at least 35 weeks. Although cultures were clear of <i>C. freundii</i> after phage treatment, the infection did return over time and immune assays confirmed deficiencies when compared to a healthy loggerhead sea turtle. Immune parameters with statistically significant changes over the study period included the following: decreased phagocytosis, increased alpha- and gamma-globulin protein components, and an increased albumin : globulin ratio. When <i>C. freundii</i> appeared again, the multidrug-resistant status had reverted back to normal susceptibility patterns. Although not completely known whether it was another subspecies of bacteria, the therapy did resolve the multidrug-resistant challenge. Phage therapy in combination with antimicrobial agents may be an effective treatment for sea turtles with normally functioning immune systems or less-severe infections. Additional research is needed to better understand and quantify sea turtle immunology.</p>","PeriodicalId":15235,"journal":{"name":"Journal of aquatic animal health","volume":"33 3","pages":"139-154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/aah.10130","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39157167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}