Lytic bacteriophages specific to Flavobacterium columnare rescue catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.) from columnaris disease.
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Date
2011-03
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Abstract
This investigation was aimed to find out appropriate strategy against antibiotic resistant bacterial fish pathogen, F.
columnare. This pathogen was found persistently associated with fishes causing columnaris disease and ensuing
mass mortality in hatchery and culture system of Sub - Himalayan region. Nine lytic F. columnare phages (FCP1
– FCP9) specific to its fifteen isolates were isolated from the water and bottom sediments of various geo-climatic
regions of North India. The F. columnare phage FCP1 (made of hexagonal head and non contractile long tail
belonging to family Podovariedae, a member of DNA virus) exhibited broader host range to lyse 9 out of 15 isolates
of F. columnare. Therapeutic ability of FCP1 phage was assessed in C. batrachus inoculated intramuscularly (im)
with virulent bacterial isolate FC8 and post inoculated (PI) with FCP1phage (@ 108 : 106 :: cfu : pfu) through
intramuscular (im), immersion (bath) and oral (phage impregnated feed) treatment. Significant (p<0.001) reduction
(less than 10-3 cfu ml-1) in host bacterium in the sera, gill, liver and kidney of challenged fishes was noted after 6 hr
of phage treatment. Quantum of phage played a significant role in bringing down bacterial population as in the sera
of dose 1 (@ 4.55 X 106 pfu ml-1) and dose 2 (@ 9.15 X 106 pfu ml-1) treated fishes mean log10 cfu value reduced
by 3 logs (58.39%) and 5 logs (73.77%) at 96 hr, respectively. Phage treatment led to disappearance of gross
symptoms, negative bacteriological test, detectable phage and 100% survival in experimentally infected
C. batrachus. Result of this study provides evidence of profound lytic impact of FCP1 phage and represents its
interesting therapeutic importance against antibiotic resistant F. columnare.
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Keywords
Bacteriophage, C. batrachus, Columnaris disease, Flavobacterium columnare
Citation
Prasad Yogendra, Arpana, Kumar Dinesh, Sharma A K. Lytic bacteriophages specific to Flavobacterium columnare rescue catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.) from columnaris disease. Journal of Environmental Biology. 2011 Mar; 32(2): 161-168.