Fish mycobacteriosis

Abstract

Mycobacteriosis affects various species of fish, including those cultured with commercial purposes. It is a chronic systemic with granuloma forming disease known as fish tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis. In the last few years, the interest of fish culture has been increasing due to the reduction of the natural fish stock. However, the intensification of the fish cultures has been collaborated to the development of diseases, such as mycobacteriosis, causing losses due to the chronic characteristics and difficult diagnosis. Moreover, the etiological agents of mycobacteriosis are ubiquitarian, being encountered in water, soil and dust. The mycobacteriosis has been known since 1863, when Vilemin reported the tuberculosis in fish and some invertebrates; however little is known about this disease in fish, considering the large number of species in this group. Human may be infected by these bacteria, both in the workplace or recreational facilities, with the development of cutaneous granuloma known as swimming pool granuloma. This study makes a review of a number of papers on mycobacteriosis in order to increase the comprehension of the disease, contributing to the prevention of its establishment in the aquatic facilities, and thus, preserving cultured fish as well as human beings from infection.