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Mysterious 'Golf Ball Disease': What's the Truth About This Illness?
The mysterious golf ball disease was first caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus iniae, isolated from Amazonian freshwater dolphins in the 1970s. Although originally found in aquatic animals, this spherical bacterium has now become one of the most devastating fish diseases in the global aquaculture industry. The economic losses caused to the aquaculture industry by this bacterial infection exceed $100 million each year.
Since it was first described in 1976,
S. iniaehas been reported in 27 species of cultured or wild fish, including African snapper, red drum, hybrid striped bass, and rainbow trout.
In fish, symptoms caused by S. iniae infection mainly include meningoencephalitis, skin lesions and sepsis. Human infections have also been reported, particularly among Asian fish handlers, with infections often including sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, and skin inflammation.
History of Golf Disease
S. iniae was first isolated in 1972 from a subcutaneous abscess in an Amazon River dolphin and was then known as "golf ball disease." The dolphin was treated with penicillin and tyromycin and recovered successfully. The bacterium was subsequently identified as a new species of Streptococcus and was officially named S. iniae in 1976.
Over time, outbreaks associated with the bacteria have been reported around the world, including several in Asia and the United States. Soon after, Israeli rainbow trout and African sea bream also showed symptoms of the disease similar to that of S. iniae. In a 1995 study, S. shiloi was reclassified as a synonym of S. iniae, which deepened the scientific community's attention to maintaining fish health.
Identification and Identification
In the laboratory, identifying S. iniae can be quite tricky because traditional methods of streptococcal identification fail to provide adequate results. The bacterium cannot be grouped by the Lancefield antigenic method and has only two known serotypes, each identified by biochemical differences. Molecular genetics methods using DNA sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization techniques can correctly identify S. iniae, but CDC believes that this is not necessary in most cases.
S. iniae is highly pathogenic in freshwater, marine, and brackish-water fish and has a high mortality rate: outbreaks can cause up to 30% to 50% mortality. Rate. The global economic impact of S. iniae is estimated to be $100 million, with losses particularly severe in the United States. Affected fish include red drum, rainbow trout, and monkfish, but wild fish can also be infected.
Risk of human infection
The few cases of human infection with S. iniae have occurred primarily in individuals with weakened immune systems. Since 1991, clinical cases have been reported in Texas and Canada, with most patients being of Asian descent and suffering injuries from handling raw fish. This suggests that cultural habits may play a role in increasing the risk of infection.
Control and Treatment
For outbreaks of S. iniae, there are several approaches to infection control. An important measure is to reduce fish feeding, which can reduce the absorption of bacteria in the water. Reducing fish density and strengthening water quality management can also effectively improve survival rates. Studies using probiotics have shown that Aeromonas sobria may inhibit the growth of S. iniae. In addition, certain antibiotics are used to treat infections, such as penicillin and other beta-lactams.
These treatments were effective not only for fish but also for humans, and all cases eventually recovered after treatment.
The secret of golf ball disease lies in its potential transmission routes and widespread impact. In the face of this mysterious bacterium, how should future control and treatment measures be further explored and improved?
