Sains Malaysiana 49(8)(2020): 1819-1827

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4908-06

On-Farm Epidemiological Surveillance of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (Gift) Cultured at Floating Net Cages in Pahang, Malaysia

(Pengawasan Epidemiologi di Ladang Ternakan Tilapia (Gift) yang Ditingkatkan Secara Genetik pada Sangkar Ikan Terapung di Pahang, Malaysia)

MOHD SYAFIQ MOHAMMAD RIDZUAN¹*, NUR AMIRAH MD RADZI¹, FAHMI SUDIRWAN¹, KAMISA AHMAD¹, KUA BENG CHU¹, CHADAG VISHNUMURTHY MOHAN² & MOHD FIRDAUS NAWI³

¹National Fish Health Research Division (NaFisH), Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Batu Maung, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

²WorldFish, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

³Department of Marine Science, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Received: 29 August 2019/Accepted: 5 April 2020

ABSTRACT

Incidence of streptococcosis, parasitic infestation and Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) outbreaks in tilapia aquaculture were reported worldwide, affecting the production and poses a significant threat to sustainable aquaculture. There is limited information on genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) strain with regard to its susceptibility against these diseases. Thus, eight months of farm-level epidemiology surveillance was conducted at a private tilapia farm from August 2017 to March 2018, to determine the prevalence of bacterial, parasite and TiLV in GIFT cage-culture. Throughout the study, a total of 205 tilapias were sampled and subjected to bacteriology, parasitology, and TiLV detection. Water quality parameters, fish weight and length, and associated clinical signs were noted. Mortality of cultured GIFT was recorded at 24.8% from initial stocking, where high mortality was observed in early four months of the culture period. Low prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae (10.3%) was detected throughout the sampling period. S. agalactiae was successfully isolated in September (32%), October (4%), December (4%) and March (28%). Among other bacteria species that were isolated include Aeromonas hydrophila (4.6%), Staphylococcus spp. (5.1%) and Plesiomonas shigelloides (1.7%). Low prevalence (4-12%) of Cichlidogyrus spp. and Trichodina spp. was also observed during post-mortem. Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) analysis on all pooled sample of the liver, spleen, and brain showed negative TiLV reaction. This finding suggests that the localized risk in GIFT culture is minimal. However, much attention should be directed to reduce the severity of factors affecting fish health.

Keywords: Epidemiology; genetically improved farmed tilapia (gift); streptococcosis; Streptococcus agalactiae; tilapia

ABSTRAK

Penyakit streptokosis, serangan parasit dan jangkitan Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) dalam ternakan tilapia telah dilaporkan berlaku di seluruh dunia, menjejaskan pengeluaran tilapia dan mengancam aktiviti akuakultur yang mapan. Maklumat terkini berkaitan kerentangan GIFT terhadap jangkitan streptokosis dan statusnya di Malaysia adalah terhad. Oleh yang demikian, kajian epidemiologi telah dijalankan di ladang ternakan ikan swasta untuk tempoh lapan bulan iaitu dari Ogos 2017 sehingga Mac 2018 untuk menentukan kadar kelaziman jangkitan penyakit bakteria, parasit dan TiLV dalam ternakan sangkar ikan GIFT. Sejumlah 205 ikan GIFT telah diperoleh bagi tujuan pengesanan bakteria, parasitologi dan TiLV. Parameter kualiti air, berat dan panjang ikan, serta tanda-tanda klinikal turut direkodkan sepanjang kajian dijalankan. Secara keseluruhan, kematian ikan GIFT telah direkodkan pada kadar 24.8% dan kadar kematian yang tinggi telah berlaku dalam tempoh empat bulan ternakan. Kadar jangkitan bakteriaStreptococcus agalactiae yang rendah (10.3%) dikesan sepanjang tempoh persampelan. S. agalactiae telah berjaya dipencilkan pada bulan September (32%), Oktober (4%), Disember (4%) dan Mac (28%). Antara spesies bakteria lain yang turut dipencilkan adalahAeromonas hydrophila (4.6%), Staphylococcus spp. (5.1%) danPlesiomonas shigelloides (1.7%). Kadar jangkitan parasit yang rendah (4-12%) sepertiCichlidogyrus spp. danTrichodina spp. turut diperhatikan. Analisis Tindak Balas Rantai Transkripsi-Polimerase Berbalik (RT-PCR) bagi kesemua sampel yang diperoleh menunjukkan reaksi negatif TiLV. Pencirian serotip dan ujian kerentangan antibiotik terhadap strain bakteria S. agalactiae yang telah dipencilkan turut dibincangkan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa risiko jangkitan streptokosis terhadap ternakan ikan GIFT di lokasi persampelan adalah minimum. Walau bagaimanapun, banyak perhatian harus diarahkan untuk mengurangkan faktor risiko yang mempengaruhi kesihatan ikan.

Kata kunci: Epidemiologi; penambahbaikkan ternakan tilapia (GIFT) secara genetik; streptokosis; Streptococcus agalactiae; tilapia

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*Corresponding author; email: syafiq@dof.gov.my