Volume : 4, Issue : 8, August - 2015

STUDY ON STREPTOCOCCUS INFECTION IN AQUARIUM FISHES

Seema S. Korde

Abstract :

<p>The present article reports on the streptococcus infections in aquarium fishes. Smears from the abdominal cavity showed the presence of small Gram-positive cocci in pairs or chains. Sections revealed the presence of a severe acute necrotizing reaction in many organs, but especially the spleen and kidney. Gram-stained sections showed that the changes corresponded with massive numbers of Gram-positive cocci; large numbers of bacteria were also present within blood vessels throughout the fish. Axenic cultures of pinpoint non-hemolytic off-white colonies (1 to 2 mm in diameter) were recovered from all fish on TSA and blood agars, but not on MacConkey’s agar. These isolates were catalase and oxidase negative, non-motile Gram-positive cocci, which occurred in pairs or short chains.</p>