Isolation of Vibrio alginolyticus from seawater aquaria

The seawater bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus was detected in 5 of 20 water samples from seawater aquaria (from 3 of 5 units) and also from the surface of diseased stony corals. A total of 45 isolates were differentiated biochemically, of which 13 isolates (29%) proved to be V. alginolyticus. All those strains produced the virulence factors caseinase and lipase, 11 strains amylase and gelatinase. 7 strains showed lecithinase activity and 2 strains produced hemolysins. All examined strains showed a marked toxicity to vero cells proven by the MTT-bioassay, but no toxicity to plant cells with the saline alga Asteromonas gracilis as model. The isolates were mostly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, macrolides and lincomycin. However, they proved to be susceptible to aminoglycoside- and polypeptide-antibiotics as well as to tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, florfenicol, enrofloxacin and sulfamethoxazol-trimethoprim. The possible participation of this bacterium in the bleaching and dying of stony corals is mentioned as well as its role as human pathogen.     

Invasive Mycobacterium marinum infection of the hand

Abstract

Mycobacterium marinum infection of the hand is rare. We report the case of a 39-year-old man with M marinum infection that resulted in a chronic soft tissue infection, extensor tendon synovitis, and arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints. The cause was probably tropical freshwater fishes.     

一起广西某生活饮用水厂供水水质污染事件调查

目的调查某城郊饮用水厂供水水质污染事件原因。方法现场调查与实验室检测相结合,按《生活饮用水卫生规范》(2001)、CJ/T206-2005、GB5749-85相应项目进行调查、检测和评价。结果在该自来水厂水源水(水面下0.2m)、进厂水(取水点深6m)、出厂水各取1份水样检测,色度15～100度,浑浊度0.72～17度,水质有微弱异味和弱腥味,铁0.11～2.60mg/L,锰0.02～0.57mg/L,氯化物4.29～4.56mg/L,氨氮0.09～0.17mg/L,硫酸盐1.14mg/L。取水源水面下3.5m水样按规范常规项目全分析,除游离余氯外均符合规范要求。结论饮用水水质浑浊变味可能是由于枯水期水源水库水量减少,水体自净和复氧能力不足,水源取水点上游1000m内网箱养鱼,来自饲料等有机物厌氧分解,取水点过于接近水库底部所至。     

Cercarial dermatitis contracted via contact with an aquarium: case report and review

Cercarial dermatitis ('swimmer's itch') is an itchy inflammatory response to the penetration of the skin by non-human Schistosoma parasites. It is commonly contracted while swimming or wading in lakes. We report a biology teacher who developed the dermatitis after cleaning the school aquarium in which he kept a water snail and some fish.     

Capture,transport, and maintenance of live squid (Loligo pealei) for electrophysiological studies

The capture, transport, and maintenance of live adult Atlantic coast squid (Loligo pealei) are described. The objective was to obtain healthy live squid from a coastal region and to maintain them at an inland research facility long enough to provide at least 4 days of electrophysiological research. An inexpensive closed aquarium system is described, which utilizes an ion-exchange resin in the filter, that allows a typical survival time of at least 4.5 days. Similar closed aquarium systems may be of interest to other biophysicists who wish to maintain live squid away from coastal research facilities.     

Physiological correlates of surfacing behaviour--effect of aquarium depth on surfacing, growth and metamorphosis in Rana tigrina

Rana tigrina were reared from hatching to metamorphosis in aquaria containing different depths but equal volume of water. To exchange atmospheric air, tadpoles in the shallow aquarium surfaced less frequently, travelled shorter distance at less metabolic energy cost and hence grew larger (3.1 g) at a higher (25%) efficiency than those (2.5 g; 19% efficiency) reared in the deepest aquarium. Aquarium depth is a more potent factor than pO2 in the regulation of surfacing behaviour. The significant and positive correlations observed between feeding, metabolism and growth, on one hand, and surfacing behaviour, on the other, can serve as an index of metabolism of the tadpole.     

Human Melioidosis Caused by Novel Transmission of Burkholderia pseudomallei from Freshwater Home Aquarium,United States

Nearly all cases of melioidosis in the continental United States are related to international travel to areas to which Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacterium that causes melioidosis, is endemic. We report the diagnosis and clinical course of melioidosis in a patient from the United States who had no international travel history and the public health investigation to determine the source of exposure. We tested environmental samples collected from the patient’s home for B. pseudomallei by PCR and culture. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted on PCR-positive environmental samples, and results were compared with sequences from the patient’s clinical specimen. Three PCR-positive environmental samples, all collected from a freshwater home aquarium that had contained imported tropical fish, were a genetic match to the clinical isolate from the patient. This finding suggests a novel route of exposure and a potential for importation of B. pseudomallei, a select agent, into the United States from disease-endemic areas.