Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Selected Striped Bass Diseases of Microbial Etiology
This project studied the sequential pathological and microbiological changes occuring in striped bass experimentally infected with selected microbial pathogens, to study virulence mechanisms of those pathogens, and to develop rapid and sensitive methods for their detection.
The State and University Extension service has used the diagnostic service provided by our unit. For a book chapter on Bacterial agglutination written at the request of the Senior Editor, information on the effects of temperature derived from work on this project was incorporated. From publications derived from this work on these newly described fish pathogens, fish health scientists will be able to associate specific disease more directly with these agents. A comparison of these fish pathogens with previously described fish pathogens has associated products from three of four newly described fish agents with virulence and potential pathogenicity for the mouse and, perhaps, other homeothermic animals including man. Many monospecific sera are now available for detection of new and old isolates. The dot blot and ELISA procedures with sera diluted to monospecificity are among the most specific tests or rapid screening and identification. We have completed the characterization of biochemical activities of organisms selected for study. Through protein profiles, toxin and plasmid enumeration, the groundwork for continuing the molecular basis of characterization of bacteria has been advanced.
|
Frank Hetrick and Robert S. Roberson
Department of Microbiology
University of Maryland College Park
|
|
|
