Brian Austin

University of Stirling · Institute of Aquaculture

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining widespread use in the preparation and publication of manuscripts. The technology enables the automation of time-consuming tasks including literature searches and review, and the management of largescale data sets. However, there is concern about the role of AI in the construction/writing of manuscripts, an...

Since its inception ~6000 years ago, aquaculture has evolved to enable its survival and growth to become a major contributor of protein of high nutritional value for human consumption, thereby improving food security and reducing poverty. Best practices have been established and updated to reflect developments as they occurred. Currently, best prac...

Unlabelled: The majority of marine ammonia oxidizers belong to Thaumarchaeota, a phylum of Archaea, which is distributed throughout the water column. Marine surface waters contain distinct thaumarchaeotal phylotypes compared to the deeper ocean, but spatial dynamics of the surface-associated lineages are largely unsolved. This study of 120 seawate...

Fish from the aquaculture industry will continue to be one of the mainstays in meeting human animal protein needs. Various global challenges face the aquaculture industry. Starting from the issue of environmental degradation, water pollution, conversion of agricultural land and aquaculture, to diseases attacks and the use of antibiotics to control...

Over the last few decades, aquaculture has undergone a dramatic expansion in production, becoming a key source of food for people in many countries. Indeed, aquaculture has become extremely important for food security. However, the rapid expansion has led to many concerns, such as the effects of water shortages, pollution, disease and the depletion...

This book has been developed to provide a detailed discussion of probiotics, which have been evaluated for use predominantly in fish and shellfish aquaculture. This book highlights strengths and weaknesses in knowledge and discusses gaps that need to be addressed. There has been a great deal of research concerning the use of probiotics in aquacultu...

Consideration needs to be given to quality issues for commercial probioticsCommercial probiotic. There are safety concerns with the use of some organisms, notably Gram-negative bacteria, e.g. Aeromonas, from genera associated with diseases of aquatic animals. The legal standing of probiotics needs clarification, namely are they medicinal substances...

This study sought to determine the effect of fermented medicinal herbs (FMH), i.e. cutchery ( Kaempferia galanga ), turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) and curcuma ( Curcuma xanthorrhiza ) in combination with molasses and probiotic drink (Yakult), administered orally on the hematological and physiological profile of striped catfish ( Pangasi a nodon hypopht...

Fish from the aquaculture industry will continue to be one of the mainstays in meeting human animal protein needs. Various global challenges face the aquaculture industry. Starting from the issue of environmental degradation, water pollution, conversion of agricultural land and aquaculture, to diseases attacks and the use of antibiotics to contr...

This study sought to determine the effect of fermented medicinal herbs (FMH), i.e. cutchery ( Kaempferia galanga ), turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) and curcuma ( Curcuma xanthorrhiza ) in combination with molasses and probiotic drink (Yakult), administered orally on the hematological and physiological profile of striped catfish ( Pangasi a nodon hypopht...

This study sought to determine the effect of fermented medicinal herbs (FMH), i.e. cutchery ( Kaempferia galanga ), tumeric ( Curcuma longa ) and curcuma ( Curcuma xanthorrhiza ) in combination with molasses and probiotic drink (Yakult), administered orally on the hematological and physiological profile of striped catfish ( Pangasionodon hypophthal...

This book contains topics on the role of climatic factors on the epidemiology, prevalence, distribution, prevention and control of fish diseases. The 25 chapters that are divided into three main parts that discuss freshwater ecosystems and biological sequestrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide; microbial diseases (viral, bacterial and fungal infec...

Natural plant dietary supplementation in aquafeed could be used as an effective way for increasing the immunocompetency and disease resistance of fish. The current study aimed to investigate the potential effects of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf powder supplementation on the immune response, antioxidant status, and disease resistance against Aeromo...

The diagnosis of bacterial fish diseases has progressed from traditional culture-dependent methods involving the recovery of pathogens on agar-containing media and identification by examination of phenotypic traits. Newer approaches centre on culture-independent approaches. A problem with culturing is that it lacks sensitivity, tends to be slow, an...

This study characterized probiotics Kocuria SM1 and Rhodococcus SM2, which were recovered from the intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum). The cultures were Gram-positive, non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative cocci or rods. Cell multiplication of SM1 and SM2 were observed at 4–37 °C (45 °C for SM1), in 0...

This article presents the results of a workshop held in Stirling, Scotland in June 2018, called to examine critically the effects of low-dose ionising radiation on the ecosphere. The meeting brought together participants from the fields of low- and high-dose radiobiology and those working in radioecology to discuss the effects that low doses of rad...

The genus Vibrio, belonging to Gammaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria, is a genetically and ecologically diverse group of heterotrophic bacteria, that are ubiquitous in marine environments, especially in coastal areas. In particular, vibrios dominate, i.e. up to 10% of the readily culturable marine bacteria in these habitats. The distribu...

Aeromonas salmonicida was isolated from red spot emperor, king soldier bream, white-spotted rabbit fish and tilapia, and an invertebrate (abalone) in Oman during December 2011–May 2012. The cytotoxic enterotoxin ast gene was found widely distributed among the isolates; aerolysin-like protein (act) and the flagellin structural gene lafA less so; and...

Since the late nineteenth century, pure cultures have been regarded as the cornerstone of bacteriology. However, not all bacteria will multiply sufficiently to produce visible colonies on solid media; some cells will produce micro-colonies that are invisible to the naked eye. Moreover, the proportion of culturable cells that produce visible growth...

During a 3-month period from June to the end of August 2016, ~5% mortalities were observed in a farm with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) and one farm of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in Bulgaria. The disease was manifested by gill ulcers/rot, asphyxiation and bloody ascites. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from the internal organs...

Probiotics, which are live microorganisms conveying health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts, play an important role in aquaculture to prevent or control fish and shellfish diseases principally caused by bacterial pathogens. Various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including yeasts, bacteriophages and algae have be...

A diverse range of compounds, including antibiotics and disinfectants, are used in aquaculture, although there has been a move away from the use of medically important compounds, notably antibiotics, and chemicals for which health risks have been identified. Generally, medicated feed tends to be stable, and if sensible feeding regimes are adopted t...

There needs to be a disinfectant policy for equipment that enters the fish-holding facilities, such as nets, fish size grading machinery, protective footwear, notably boots, and vehicles that enter and leave the site. Disinfectants need to be replaced regularly as the presence of organic matter will often decrease effectiveness. Used disinfectants...

Historically, scientists have seemed loath to make rapid diagnoses, preferring to adopt laborious testing regimes. Yet, diagnostic techniques have their drawbacks insofar as it is not always certain that the actual pathogen is recognized. Culture-dependent methods may highlight secondary invader or contaminants. Culture-independent techniques, alth...

The motile aeromonads have traditionally been linked to Aer. hydrophila, but multiple species of fish pathogens have been recognized including Aer. dhakensis and Aer. schubertii. Nevertheless, Aer. hydrophila has been the focus of attention since the start of the twenty-first century particularly as a target for the development of diagnostic and co...

Fish pathogenic pseudomonads include Pseudomonas anguilliseptica, Ps. baetica, Ps. chlororaphis, Ps. fluorescens, Ps. koreensis, Ps. luteola, Ps. plecoglossicida, Ps. pseudoalcaligenes and Ps. putida, which are the causes of Sekiten byo (= red spot), a disease of wedge sole without external or internal disease signs, distended abdomen and haemorrha...

Disease control strategies include better husbandry/management practices, consideration of the use of genetically disease resistant fish strains when available, the use of suitable diets/dietary supplements, vaccines, non specific immunostimulants, probiotics, prebiotics, natural plant products, antimicrobial compounds, water disinfection, and prev...

The vibrios have been major problems to aquaculture in marine, coastal and estuarine water. Some species, e.g. V. anguillarum, have virtually a worldwide distribution; others have been focused on either colder, e.g. Ali. salmonicida, or warmer, e.g. Ph. damselae, environments. Because of their role in large scale mortalities, much effort has been e...

Pseudoalteromonas piscicida, Pseudoalteromonas undina, Shewanella putrefaciens, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, Halomonas (=Deleya) cupida, Acinetobacter sp., Moraxella sp., Moritella marina, Moritella viscosa, Mycoplasma mobile, Myxococcus piscicola, Aquaspirillum sp., Janthinobacterium lividum, Pasteurella skyensis, Piscirickettsia salmonis, Rickettsia...

A wide range of aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive taxa have been associated with fish diseases with new pathogens including Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. Lactococcosis and streptoccoccosis have developed into significant constraints of many fish species over a wide geographical area. Recent research has aimed to improve diagnostics by use of...

An increasing number of Gram-negative chromogens have become associated with fish diseases particularly involving the gills and external surfaces [fin/tail rot]. New additions to the list of pathogens include Chryseobacterium piscicola, Flavobacterium oncorhynchi, Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi, T. discolor, T. gallaicum and T. soleae with research int...

Francisella noatunensis and Fr. noatunensis subsp. orientalis are intracellular pathogens which cause granulomatous disease. Isolation has been achieved initially in cell culture with subsequent growth on cysteine heart agar. Disease control has been achieved by vaccination and by use of antimicrobial compounds, notably florfenicol.

Aeromonas salmonicida is a significant pathogen of salmonids, and in its atypical form has spread into cyprinids and marine flatfish. Although Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida is homogeneous, atypical isolates are more heterogeneous and do not fit into the current subspecies classification. Questions about the ecology of the organism remain...

There is no single technique suitable for the recovery of all known bacterial fish pathogens. Scientists need to use a combination of methods and incubation conditions to achieve pure cultures. Even so, not all taxa are culturable: for example Candidatus have not been cultured in vitro.

A wide range of enteric bacteria, including representatives of Edwardsiella, and Yersinia, have been associated with fish diseases; some of the pathogens, e.g. Y. ruckeri, being responsible for large scale losses in aquaculture. Some new species have been described, e.g. Edw. anguillarum and Edw. piscicida. In addition to the organisms detailed bel...

Aerobic heterotrophic Gram-positive rods and cocci have received great attention from fisheries microbiologists, largely because of the severity of the diseases caused by pathogenic representatives. The group includes Ren. salmoninarum, Mycobacterium and Nocardia, the causal agents of BKD mycobacteriosis and nocardiosis, respectively. These organis...

Although there is discussion over the value and need of cultures in the era of culture-independent techniques, it is apparent that viable bacterial cells are valuable to culture collections, and for a wide range of biotechnological procedures, including vaccine production, and as probiotics. Yet, the value of stock cultures, which may be years old,...

There are ongoing developments in the understanding of bacterial fish pathogens. New and emerging diseases are regularly recognised especially in aquaculture. Great emphasis is placed on better diagnoses, pathogenicity mechanisms, and disease control especially by immunoprophylaxis (vaccines, nonspecific immunostimulants, probiotics and natural pla...

This book puts emphasis on the isolation, taxonomy, diagnosis (phenotypic, serology and molecular biology), epizootiology, pathogenicity mechanisms, and methods of disease control (by vaccination, immunostimulation, probiotics, prebiotics, plant products, and antimicrobial compounds. Co-infections, which are attributed to more than one microbial sp...

There has been a progressive increase in the number of new bacterial taxa associated with fish diseases over the last 20 years, with examples including Pasteurella skyensis and Francisella noatunensis and the emergence of so-called unculturables, e.g. Candidatus, intact cells of which have been observed in diseased tissue but culture has not yet be...

Re.ni.bac.te'ri.um. L. pl. n. renes the kidneys; L. neut. n. bacterium rod; N.L. neut. n. Renibacterium kidney bacterium. Actinobacteria / Actinobacteria / Micrococcales / Micrococcaceae / Renibacterium Short rods or cocco‐bacilli , 0.3–1.0 × 1.0–1.5 µm, often occurring in pairs (= diplococcobacilli) and short chains. Strongly Gram‐stain‐positive ....

Roth'i.a. N.L. fem. n. Rothia named for Genevieve D. Roth, who performed basic studies with these organisms. Actinobacteria / Actinobacteria / Micrococcales / Micrococcaceae / Rothia Coccoid , spherical, dipththeroid , filamentous mycelial cells, usually up to 1.0 µm in diameter. Irregular swellings and clubbed ends up to 5.0 µm in diameter may be...

Microbial diseases cause considerable economic losses in aquaculture and new infection control measures often rely on a better understanding of pathogenicity. However, disease studies performed in fish hosts often require specialist infrastructure (e.g., aquaria), adherence to strict legislation and do not permit high-throughput approaches; these r...

Aquaculture is being seriously considered as a promising sustainable industry in the Sultanate of Oman. However, there is no baseline data or information on the existence and prevalence of aquatic animal disease or pathogens available in the country. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate current farming practices of tilapia in Oman, to in...

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) were challenged intraperitoneally with a sublethal dose of Vibrio anguillarum VIB1 and allowed to recover. Then, after 7 days, naïve fish, (designated as 'bystander' fish) which had never been exposed to the pathogen, were introduced to the same tank. These swam with the adapted (recovered) fish for 7 da...

There is a rapidly increasing literature pointing to the success of probiotics, immunostimulants, plant products and oral vaccines in immunomodulation, namely stimulation of the innate, cellular and/or humoral immune response, and the control of bacterial fish diseases. Probiotics are regarded as live micro-organisms administered orally and leading...

Streptococcus parauberis is an increasing threat to aquaculture of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus Temminck & Schlegel, in South Korea. We developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using the TaqMan probe assay to detect and quantify S. parauberis by targeting the gyrB gene sequences, which are effective for molecular analy...

Aeromonads occur in potable waters and foods, and may be associated with disease of aquatic (i.e., fish) and terrestrial animals, including humans. There is an increasing incidence of aeromonads in human diseases, including intestinal and extraintestinal infections leading to diarrhea, septicemias, and bone, eye, respiratory tract, and especially w...

Hafnia alvei was isolated in Bulgaria from healthy noble crayfish, Astacus astacus (L.), and then from farmed diseased brown trout, Salmo trutta L., with signs of haemorrhagic septicaemia. The isolates were identified initially with conventional phenotyping and commercial Merlin Micronaut and API 20E rapid identification systems, followed by sequen...

Aquaculture is the rearing of aquatic species under controlled conditions, and includes the production of fish (carp, salmon and trout, and tilapia predominate), shellfish (particularly penaeid shrimp, oysters and clams), plants (seaweeds), alligators, amphibians, crocodiles and turtles. The process includes self-contained processes starting with t...

Alcaligenaceae, a family in the order Burkholderiales of the β-Proteobacteria, comprises the genera Achromobacter, Advenella, Alcaligenes, Bordetella, Brackiella, Candidimonas, Castellaniella, Derxia, Kerstersia, Oligella, Paenalcaligenes, Paralcaligenes, Parapusillimonas, Pelistega, Pigmentiphaga, Pusillimonas, and Taylorella. The cultures are Gra...

Sneathiellaceae, a family in the order Sneathiellales, comprises the genera Oceanibacterium and Sneathiella. The cultures are Gram-negative asporogenous rods, which have been recovered from marine samples. The dominant fatty acids include C18:1ω7c and C16:0. The G + C content of the DNA is ∼57 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequencing evidence was used princi...

Enteric redmouth disease, caused by Yersinia ruckeri, may result in high mortalities in farmed salmonids. Prophylaxis has been achieved with an immersion vaccine comprised of inactivated serovar 1 biotype 1 (motile) Y. ruckeri cultures. However, there has been a growing number of enteric redmouth outbreaks in vaccinated livestock associated with se...

This review addresses the bacterial microflora within and on the surface of salmonids. The types and number of micro-organisms recovered from fish reflects the microflora of the surrounding water and the methods employed. Arguably, diseases are major threats to both wild and farmed fish, of which bacteria feature prominently in the list of aetiolog...

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), (average weight = 18 ± 0.2 g) were fed for two months with diet supplemented with 1 g (= 1%) and 2 g (= 2%) 100 g-1 of lupin (Lupinus perennis), mango (Mangifera indica) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and with normal diet as controls. Digestive enzymes (in the stomach and intestine), growth perfor...

Vibrios have emerged as the scourge of marine fish (Figs. 11.1 and 11.2) and shellfish. Renewed interest has resulted in the description of new species and a better understanding of the biology of long-recognised taxa. To date, many species have been described as fish pathogens. In addition, hard-to-speciate Vibrio have been regularly recovered (e....

Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae and piscicida have been associated with ulcerative lesions and pasteurellosis/pseudotuberculosis in marine fish, respectively. Diagnosis has been achieved by phenotyping, serology and by use of molecular methods. Pathogenicity mechanisms include the presence of extracellular products. Vaccines have been d...

Francisella asiatica and Fr. noatunensis are intracellular pathogens which cause granulomatous disease. Isolation has been achieved initially in cell culture with subsequent growth on cysteine heart agar. Disease control has been achieved by vaccination and by use of antimicrobial compounds, notably florfenicol.

There is no single technique suitable for the recovery of all known bacterial fish pathogens. Scientists need to use a combination of methods and incubation conditions to achieve pure cultures. Even so, not all taxa are culturable: for example Candidatus has not been cultured in vitro

Disease control strategies include better husbandry/management practices, consideration of the use of genetically disease resistant fish strains when available, the use of suitable diets/dietary supplements, vaccines, non specific immunostimulants, probiotics, prebiotics, natural plant products, antimicrobial compounds, water disinfection, and prev...

There are ongoing developments in the understanding of bacterial fish pathogens. New and emerging diseases are regularly recognised especially in aquaculture. Great emphasis is placed on better diagnoses, pathogenicity mechanisms, and disease control especially by immunoprophylaxis. There is an interaction between some pollutants and occurrence of...

Aerobic heterotrophic Gram-positive rods and cocci have received great attention from fisheries microbiologists, largely because of the severity of the diseases caused by pathogenic representatives.

Fish pathogenic pseudomonads include Pseudomonas anguilliseptica, Ps. baetica, Ps. chlororaphis, Ps. fluorescens, Ps. luteola, Ps. plecoglossicida, Ps. pseudoalcaligenes and Ps. putida, which are the causes of Sekiten byo (= red spot), a disease of wedge sole without external or internal disease signs, distended abdomen and haemorrhaging on the bod...

A wide range of aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive taxa have been associated with fish diseases with new pathogens including Streptococcus ictaluri and Str. phocae. Streptococcosis has developed into a significant constraint of many fish species over a wide geographical area. Recent research has aimed to improve diagnostics by use of sensitive and...

Aeromonas salmonicida is a significant pathogen of salmonids, and in its atypical form has spread into cyprinids and marine flatfish. Although Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida is homogeneous, atypical isolates are more heterogeneous and do not fit into the current subspecies classification. Questions about the ecology of the organism remain...

The scientific literature abounds with references to aeromonads as fish pathogens, and it is often difficult to distinguish the primary pathogen from opportunist or contaminant. There has been a tendency for motile aeromonads to be linked with Aer. hydrophila and non motile representatives with Aer. salmonicida. With the advent of more reliable tax...

Pseudoalteromonas piscicida, Pseudoalteromonas undina, Shewanella putrefaciens, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, Halomonas (=Deleya) cupida, Acinetobacter sp., Moraxella sp., Moritella marina, Moritella viscosa, Mycoplasma mobile, Myxococcus piscicola, Aquaspirillum sp., Janthinobacterium lividum, Pasteurella skyensis, Piscirickettsia salmonis, Rickettsia...

Captive snakes, that is, a Jamaican boa (Epicrates subflavus) a yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus) and a corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus guttatus), died with signs of bacteraemia including the presence of petechial haemorrhages in the mouth and gums and haemorrhages in the lung, spleen and intestines. The abdomen and anus were swollen with bloody...

  To evaluate the antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas M162 against Flavobacterium psychrophilum.   The antagonistic activity of M162 was tested in vivo and in vitro, and its mode of action examined by siderophore production and immunological responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry. Pseudomonas M162 inhibited the growth of Fl. psychrophi...

Background: Many bacteria of clinical importance survive and may grow in different environments. Antibiotic pollution may exert on them a selective pressure leading to an increase in the prevalence of resistance. Objectives: In this study we sought to determine whether environmental concentrations of antibiotics and concentrations representing acti...

From initial work on the use of chemically inactivated whole-cell suspensions, the development of fish vaccines has included purified and often inactivated subcellular components, subunit, live attenuated, DNA and compound products containing antigens for multiple pathogens. Application is by injection, immersion in a dilute suspension and/or orall...

With an ever increasing demand for seafood that cannot be met by capture fisheries alone, growing pressure is being placed on aquaculture production. However, infectious diseases are a major constraint. Infectious disease in aquaculture: prevention and control brings together a wealth of recent research on this problem and its effective management....

The taxonomic position of strain DFH11T, which was isolated from coastal seawater off Qingdao, People’s Republic of China in 2007, was determined. Strain DFH11T comprised Gram-negative, motile, strictly aerobic spirilli that did not produce catalase. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DFH11T shared ~97.2, 93.3, 91.8, 9...