TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL EASTERN FISH HEALTH WORKSHOP ROYAL PAVILLION RESORT, ATLANTIC BEACH, NC MARCH 18 - 20, 1997 Streptococcus sp. Infections in Fish John A. Plumb Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849 Streptococcus sp. infections occur in a variety of species of freshwater and salt water fishes. These diseases maybe either chronic or acute and usually are associated with some type of stress. There are about one dozen species of Streptococcus and Enterococcus that have been associated with some type of disease condition in fish. Streptococcus infections have been reported from countries around the world but most severe diseases have occurred in Central America, Israel, Japan, and the United States. The disease has been reported in over two dozen species of fish from freshwater and marine environments and from both cultured and wild fish populations. Species of fish most severely affected by Streptococcus species are tilapia, striped bass, striped bass x white bass hybrids and yellowtail. Currently, Streptococcus is the most serious disease problem affecting the world-wide intensive culture of tilapia. Streptococcus infections have been reported to be transmitted from fish to humans. The species most often associated with human infections is S. iniae but other Streptococcus species that infect fish may also infect humans. These infections have been contracted when fish (tilapia) are purchased at live fish markets and the consumer is spined or cut while dressing the fish. Streptococcus infections are most often associated with some type of environmental stress or trauma to the fish. The disease appears to be most severe in closed recirculating systems where environmental conditions and water quality are continuously marginal. The disease is also associated with high stocking density, high organic load in the water, or sub-lethal external protozoan infestations. Return to 22nd Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop Return to Leetown Science Center Home Page