Comparison of the API 20E and BBL Crystal E/NF identification systems for differentiating bacterial isolates from apparently healthy reared sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
The ability of two commercial rapid identification systems, API 20E and BBL Crystal E/NF, to reliably identify bacterial isolates from the internal organs of reared sea bass were compared. The tests gave different results: API 20E identified bacteria as Pseudomonas spp. with 37% accuracy, while BBL Crystal E/NF identified them as Flavobacterium odoratum with 99% accuracy. Although F. odoratum is not a marine fish pathogen, conventional tests conducted with the same isolates were more indicative of them being Flavobacterium spp. than Pseudomonas spp., suggesting that BBL Crystal E/NF was more reliable in this identification. Both systems were found to be applicable for diagnostics of marine fish pathogens, but should be used with caution because of possible misinterpretation.
Topic Popovic
N
N
Rudjer Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ntopic@irb.hr
Benussi Skukan
A
A
Strunjak-Perovic
I
I
Coz-Rakovac
R
R
Hacmanjek
M
M
Hunjak
B
B
D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001492:Bass / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D045826:Flavobacteriaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005417:Flavobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004269:DNA, Bacterial