Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis
Abstract Background Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) is the etiological agent of francisellosis in cultured warm water fish, such as tilapia. Antibiotics are administered to treat the disease but a better understanding of Fno infection biology will inform improved treatment and preven...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-1695-0 |
| _version_ | 1818970894128644096 |
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| author | Winarti Achmad Sarmin Djainal Khalid Shahin Matthijs Metselaar Alexandra Adams Andrew P. Desbois |
| author_facet | Winarti Achmad Sarmin Djainal Khalid Shahin Matthijs Metselaar Alexandra Adams Andrew P. Desbois |
| author_sort | Winarti Achmad Sarmin Djainal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) is the etiological agent of francisellosis in cultured warm water fish, such as tilapia. Antibiotics are administered to treat the disease but a better understanding of Fno infection biology will inform improved treatment and prevention measures. However, studies with native hosts are costly and considerable benefits would derive from access to a practical alternative host. Here, larvae of Galleria mellonella were assessed for suitability to study Fno virulence. Results Larvae were killed by Fno in a dose-dependent manner but the insects could be rescued from lethal doses of bacteria by antibiotic therapy. Infection progression was assessed by histopathology (haematoxylin and eosin staining, Gram Twort and immunohistochemistry) and enumeration of bacteria recovered from the larval haemolymph on selective agar. Fno was phagocytosed and could survive intracellularly, which is consistent with observations in fish. Virulence of five Fno isolates showed strong agreement between G. mellonella and red Nile tilapia hosts. Conclusions This study shows that an alternative host, G. mellonella, can be applied to understand Fno infections, which will assist efforts to identify solutions to piscine francisellosis thus securing the livelihoods of tilapia farmers worldwide and ensuring the production of this important food source. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:43:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b84e40b2b2dc4127a4411fa0ef5306c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:43:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b84e40b2b2dc4127a4411fa0ef5306c32022-12-21T19:37:12ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802020-01-0120111410.1186/s12866-020-1695-0Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalisWinarti Achmad Sarmin Djainal0Khalid Shahin1Matthijs Metselaar2Alexandra Adams3Andrew P. Desbois4Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingInstitute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingBenchmark Animal Health LtdInstitute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingInstitute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingAbstract Background Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) is the etiological agent of francisellosis in cultured warm water fish, such as tilapia. Antibiotics are administered to treat the disease but a better understanding of Fno infection biology will inform improved treatment and prevention measures. However, studies with native hosts are costly and considerable benefits would derive from access to a practical alternative host. Here, larvae of Galleria mellonella were assessed for suitability to study Fno virulence. Results Larvae were killed by Fno in a dose-dependent manner but the insects could be rescued from lethal doses of bacteria by antibiotic therapy. Infection progression was assessed by histopathology (haematoxylin and eosin staining, Gram Twort and immunohistochemistry) and enumeration of bacteria recovered from the larval haemolymph on selective agar. Fno was phagocytosed and could survive intracellularly, which is consistent with observations in fish. Virulence of five Fno isolates showed strong agreement between G. mellonella and red Nile tilapia hosts. Conclusions This study shows that an alternative host, G. mellonella, can be applied to understand Fno infections, which will assist efforts to identify solutions to piscine francisellosis thus securing the livelihoods of tilapia farmers worldwide and ensuring the production of this important food source.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-1695-0Alternative modelAquaculturePiscine francisellosisOreochromis niloticusRed Nile tilapia |
| spellingShingle | Winarti Achmad Sarmin Djainal Khalid Shahin Matthijs Metselaar Alexandra Adams Andrew P. Desbois Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis BMC Microbiology Alternative model Aquaculture Piscine francisellosis Oreochromis niloticus Red Nile tilapia |
| title | Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis |
| title_full | Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis |
| title_fullStr | Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis |
| title_short | Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis |
| title_sort | larva of greater wax moth galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen francisella noatunensis subsp orientalis |
| topic | Alternative model Aquaculture Piscine francisellosis Oreochromis niloticus Red Nile tilapia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-1695-0 |
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