Bacterial
🔴 Fatal
Mycobacteriosis (Fish Tuberculosis)
🦠 Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae · Mycobacteriaceae
📋 Definition
A chronic granulomatous disease of fish caused by acid-fast mycobacteria, forming granulomas throughout visceral organs; a significant zoonosis causing "fish tank granuloma" in humans.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Mycobacterium marinum, M. fortuitum, M. chelonae
Agent Family
Mycobacteriaceae
Geographic Range
Worldwide — freshwater and marine systems
Transmission Routes
Ingestion of infected tissue, water-borne
Primary Host
Wide host range: striped bass, cichlids, ornamental fish; also human zoonosis
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
🩺 Clinical Signs
Chronic wasting, ulcerative skin lesions, skeletal deformities (spinal curvature), scale loss, granulomas in internal organs.
🔬 Symptoms
🔬
Chronic wasting
Systemic Chronic
🔬
Spinal deformity
Musculoskeletal Chronic
🔬
Ulcerative skin lesions
Integumentary Chronic
🔬
Visceral granulomas
Systemic Chronic
🧪 Diagnosis
Acid-fast staining, PCR, culture (slow — weeks to months on Middlebrook 7H10).
💊 Treatment
⚠️ No universally approved treatment is currently available. The information below covers supportive care and experimental approaches.
No effective treatment — infected fish should be culled. Tank must be thoroughly disinfected.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Quarantine all new fish, good biosecurity, avoid skin contact with tank water if immunocompromised.