title: First report of Fusarium oxysporum species complex infection in zebrafish culturing system.
abstract: Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) is a highly diverse fungus. Recently, F. oxysporum infection was identified from zebrafish (Danio rerio) culturing system in Korea. Initially, a rapid whitish smudge was appeared in the water with the fungal blooming on walls of fish tanks. Microscopic studies were conducted on fungal hyphae, colony pigmentation and chlamydospore formation and the presence of macro- and microspores confirmed that the isolated fungus as F. oxysporum. Furthermore, isolated F. oxysporum was confirmed by internal transcribed spacer sequencing which matched (100%) to nine F. oxysporum sequences available in GenBank. Experimental hypodermic injection of F. oxysporum into adult zebrafish showed the development of fungal mycelium and pathogenicity similar to signs observed. Histopathologic results revealed a presence of F. oxysporum hyphae in zebrafish muscle. Fusarium oxysporum growth was increased with sea salt in a concentration-dependent manner. Antifungal susceptibility results revealed that F. oxysporum is resistant to copper sulphate (up to 200 μg mL-1) and sensitive to nystatin (up to 40 μg mL-1). This is the first report of FOSC from zebrafish culture system, suggesting it appears as an emerging pathogen, thus posing a significant risk on zebrafish facilities in the world.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: D C M
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kulatunga
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: S H S
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Dananjaya
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: C-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Life Sciences, School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju City, Jeju Self-Governing Province, Korea.|Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju City, Jeju Self-Governing Province, Korea.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine and Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Korea.|Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju City, Jeju Self-Governing Province, Korea.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Zoysa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000235:genetics; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic
keywords: 
  Danio rerio
  ; 
  Fusarium oxysporum
  ; fungal hyphae; infection; internal transcribed spacer