Piscine mycobacteriosis - a zoonosis

Overview

Piscine mycobacteriosis is a chronic progressive disease spread worldwide. The prevalence ofmycobacteriosis in aquarium fish in the Czech Republic is high and the risk of infection forhumans is very real. The cause are atypical, rapidly as well as slow growingmycobacteria.Mostoften from infected fish there have been isolated Mycobacterium marinum, M. gordonae and M.fortuitum. In professional and scientific journals, domestic and abroad, there have beenpublished many cases of human infection, most frequently caused by M. marinum, evidentlyfrom fish. Likewise, other mycobacteria (M. fortuitum, M. chelonse,M. szulgai and M. ulcerans)may be the etiological agents of this zoonosis. Human infection comes from manipulation withfish and contact with aquarium water and aquarist aids including aquarium decorations. Entryof the infection into the organism is facilitated by skin injuries and by immune deficiency ofvarious etiology. Incubation ranges from tens of days to months. There is no age-dependentresistance to the disease. The clinical manifestation of infection are usually sporotrichoidgranulomas at the site of infection, i.s.most often on the fingers of the hand. The granulomatousinflammation can spread to deeper seated structures and cause tendosynovitis, arthritis andosteomyelitis.Immuno-compromised patients are usually affected with dermatitis and systemicinfections. The diagnostics of mycobacterioses in humans requires histopathological examinationof biopsies, long-term cultivation also at laboratory temperature, and the determination ofsensitivity to therapeutics. Combinations of antituberculotics and antibiotics are applied intherapy.

Key words:
mycobacteriosis - zoonosis - epidemiology - aquarists - fish tank granuloma.