• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.585-595
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• 2021

Even though most of aquatic animal pathogens are considered opportunistic and many pose a low direct risk to personnel, all personnel working with aquatic pathogens and facilities using these organisms must comply with the regulation to prevent the release of the pathogen into the environment and causing disease in aquatic animals. First of all, in order to establish a biosafety system for aquatic pathogen, the list of microorganisms that can infect aquatic animals and humans should be drawn up according to the microorganisms encountered within national boundaries. Second, risk assessment guideline for diseases of livestock and aquatic environment is desperately needed. Third, microorganisms should be classified into risk group based on their potential impact on human and aquatic environment. Fourth, facilities handling aquatic pathogens should ensure that these pathogens are securely contained and safely handled for experimental or commercial development purposes. In conclusion, classification is based on the pathogenicity, mode of transmission and host range of the aquatic microorganisms, availability of effective preventative measures and treatments. Furthermore, risk group of aquatic pathogens should be correlated with physical containment facility requirements according to domestic characteristics.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.28.1-28.7
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• 2016

Background: Significant increases in the bacterial resistance to various antibiotics have been found in fish farms. Non-antibiotic therapies for infectious diseases in aquaculture are needed. In recent years, light-emitting diode technology has been applied to the inactivation of pathogens, especially those affecting humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of blue light (wavelengths 405 and 465 nm) on seven major bacterial pathogens that affect fish and shellfish important in aquaculture. Results: We successfully demonstrate inactivation activity of a 405/465-nm LED on selected bacterial pathogens. Although some bacteria were not fully inactivated by the 465-nm light, the 405-nm light had a bactericidal effect against all seven pathogens, indicating that blue light can be effective without the addition of a photosensitizer. Photobacterium damselae, Vibrio anguillarum, and Edwardsiella tarda were the most susceptible to the 405-nm light (36.1, 41.2, and $68.4J\;cm^{-2}$, respectively, produced one log reduction in the bacterial populations), whereas Streptococcus parauberis was the least susceptible ($153.8J\;cm^{-2}$ per one log reduction). In general, optical density (OD) values indicated that higher bacterial densities were associated with lower inactivating efficacy, with the exception of P. damselae and Vibrio harveyi. In conclusion, growth of the bacterial fish and shellfish pathogens evaluated in this study was inactivated by exposure to either the 405- or 465-nm light. In addition, inactivation was dependent on exposure time. Conclusions: This study presents that blue LED has potentially alternative therapy for treating fish and shellfish bacterial pathogens. It has great advantages in aspect of eco-friendly treating methods differed from antimicrobial methods.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.5.1-5.9
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• 2019

Background: Live fish import may lead to the unintended introduction of pathogens. We examined the monthly distribution of microbial pathogens in ornamental finfish imported into South Korea over a 6-month period. Results: Vibrio alginolyticus was detected in one lemon damsel in June and July; V. vulnificus was detected in one lemon damsel, one caerulean damsel, and one pearl-spot chromis and one ocellaris clownfish in July, April, and May, respectively; Photobacterium damselae was detected in one ocellaris clownfish and one caerulean damsel in June and July, respectively; V. anguillarum was detected in one pearl-spot chromis in February; V. harveyi was detected in one ocellaris clownfish and two mandarin fish in February and April, respectively; Yersinia ruckeri was detected in a pearlscale goldfish group in June and July and in two colored carp groups in July; and Lactococcus garvieae was detected in a lemon damsel group and a sutchi catfish group in July and May, respectively. European catfish virus, the only viral pathogen detected, was found in two sutchi catfish groups in May. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify pathogenic species and the presence or absence of pathogens (non-quarantine diseases) in imported ornamental finfish. These results demonstrate that various pathogens with the potential to harm indigenous fish populations can accompany ornamental finfish imported into South Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.2023-2032
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• 2024

Screening for antagonistic bacteria on aquatic pathogens and identification of antagonistic ingredients are essential to reduce the use of chemicals in aquaculture. In this study, strain BA09, subsequently identified as Bacillus cereus, simultaneously displayed strong antagonistic effects on Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio harveyi, and Streptococcus anisopliae in the initial screening and rescreening. In addition, the methanol extract of BA09 was subjected to antibacterial activity verification and one-dimensional (1D) reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) preparation. A total of 27 fractions were collected, 6 of which were subjected to two-dimensional (2D) RPLC separation and tracked as antibacterial. A total of 14 lipopeptides that included 9 fengycin homologs, 3 bacillomycin homologs, and 2 surfactin homologs were identified by tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry. Through characterization of the antibacterial substance in Bacillus cereus BA09, which simultaneously inhibited E. tarda, V. harveyi, and S. agalactiae, the current study provides a theoretical basis for the development of antibacterial drugs in aquaculture.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2020

Fish bacterial diseases have spread and caused serious problem for cultured marine fish in Korea. The important bacterial disease affecting mariculture such as olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) are caused by Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio scophthalmi and Streptococcus parauberis. For the bacterial disease protection in aquaculture industry, the water treatment is needed in aquaculture system. During the last decades atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma in contact with liquids have received a lot of attention of environmental and medical application. In this study, we determined the disinfectant effect in seawater and three major fish bacterial disease pathogens by using low frequency plasma treatment. Three fish bacteria (E. tarda, V. schophthalmi, S. parauberis) were not detected within 16 min, 150 min and 270 min of 20 L, 500 L and 1 ton seawater post low frequency plasma treatment, respectively. Three major fish bacterial disease pathogens were not detected within 2 min after the low frequency plasma treatment, suggesting that the low frequency plasma possess disinfectant effectiveness.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.277-287
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• 2023

Since the first discovery of antibiotics, introduction of new antibiotics has been coupled with the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Rapid dissemination of ARB and ARGs in the aquatic environments has become a global concern. ARB and ARGs have been already disseminated in the aquatic environments via various routes. Main hosts of most of ARGs were found to belong to Gammaproteobacteria class, including clinically important potential pathogens. Transmission of ARGs also occurs by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms between bacterial strains in the aquatic environments, resulting in ubiquity of ARGs. Thus, a few of ARGs and MGEs (e.g., strA, sul1, int1) have been suggested as indicators for global comparability of contamination level in the aquatic environments. With ARB and ARGs contamination, the occurrence of critical pathogens has been globally issued due to their widespread in the aquatic environments. Thus, active surveillance systems have been launched worldwide. In this review, we described advancement of methodologies for ARGs detection, and occurrence of ARB and ARGs and their dissemination in the aquatic environments. Even though numerous studies have been conducted for ARB and ARGs, there is still no clear strategy to tackle antibiotic resistance (AR) in the aquatic environments. At least, for consistent surveillance, a strict framework should be established for further research in the aquatic environments.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2018

The presence of pathogens in wild fish is a potential threat to the fish being raised nearby fish farm. Surveillance of these pathogens in the wild is, thus, highly important to keep fish in the farm safe from serious communicable diseases. Fish and crustacean were sampled 4 times at Soyang Lake in 2016. Pathogens for five reportable communicable diseases including KHVD (koi herpesvirus disease), SVC (spring viraemia of carp), EUS (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) and WSD (white spot disease), and parasites were investigated. In Soyang Lake, pale chub Zacco platypus was the most abundant. Forty seven pale chub, 8 Korea piscivorous chub Opsarichthys uncirostris, 3 oily shiner Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae and 2 crucian carp Cyprinus carassius were investigated for detection of target diseases of fish. Seventeen Caridina denticulata denticulata, 12 Oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense and 1 Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were used for detection of WSD. As the result, reportable communicable diseases were not detected in all the freshwater animals. Dactylogyrus was detected in Korea piscivorous chub. Copepoda was also detected in pale chub and Korea piscivorous chub. Metacercaria was detected in the pale chub sampled in September and October. Those were not metacercaria of liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.691-697
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• 2021

Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (Vp_AHPND) and Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) are the two most important pathogens in shrimp aquaculture and they have caused enormous losses to the shrimp industry worldwide. In ponds, the major target organ for the two pathogens is the hepatopancreas, and infection with EHP is a known potential risk factor for Vp_AHPND infection. This study aimed to develop a PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based diagnostic method for simultaneously detecting Vp_AHPND and EHP. The newly developed PCR diagnostic method could be used to test various samples, such as seawater, shrimp, and feces. The diagnostic method exhibited high sensitivity and specificity for both pathogens. This will help reduce the potential economic losses that may have been caused by the two major shrimp pathogens, Vp_AHPND and EHP, and will allow for the efforts and time spent combatting them to be dedicated elsewhere.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.18.1-18.6
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• 2018

Background: Cutaneous bacterial pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Propionibacterium acnes are often involved in acne vulgaris. The currently available therapeutic option for these skin pathogens is an antibiotic treatment, resulting in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The objective of this study was to discover an alternative antibacterial agent with lower side effect from marine algae. Results: The ethanolic extract of edible brown algae Ishige okamurae exhibits potent antibacterial activity against cutaneous bacterial pathogens. Among the ethanol soluble fractions, the n-hexane (Hexane)-soluble fraction exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against the pathogens with MIC values ranging 64 to $512{\mu}g/mL$ and with minimum bactericidal concentration values ranging 256 to $2048{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, the combination with Hexane fraction and antibiotics (ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and meropenem) exhibited synergistic effect. Conclusion: This study revealed that the I. okamurae extract exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect against acnerelated cutaneous bacterial pathogens acquired antibiotic resistant. Thus, the results of the present study suggested that the edible seaweed extract will be a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent against antibiotic-human skin pathogens and its infections.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2020

Fish culture is constantly threatened by various infectious diseases which are largely transmitted by water. Plasma technology is being used to sterilize polluted water in many industries. In this study, two bacterial pathogens Aeromonas salmonicida and Streptococcus iniae, and a virus (viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, VHSV) were subjected to plasma water that was produced by a corona discharge system. Growth of A. salmonicida was greatly inhibited from 10^5.61 CFU/ml in positive control to 10^3.51 CFU/ml in treated group by only 60 sec contact with plasma water. Similarly, S. iniae was inhibited from 10^5.85 CFU/ml to 10^3.40 CFU/ml. VHSV titer also decreased from 10^4.1 TCID₅₀/ml to 10^1.45 TCID₅₀/ml by the same treatment. Activation of water by the plasma was confirmed by the existence of ozone in the plasma water. These results suggest that plasma water could efficiently disinfect fish pathogens, possibly by the action of reactive oxygen species contained in the plasma water.