Edwardsiella piscicida

ALSO KNOWN AS: Edwardsiellosis

Edwardsiella piscicida is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is an intracellular pathogen that causes edwardsiellosis, a systemic disease in fish characterized by hemorrhagic septicemia, skin lesions, and internal organ necrosis. Outbreaks are often associated with environmental stressors such as poor water quality and temperature fluctuations.

Distribution: Worldwide in freshwater and marine environments.

Hosts: A wide range of fish species, including catfish, tilapia, and largemouth bass.

Detection Methods: Bacterial culture on Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) or brain–heart infusion agar.

Target Tissue: Blood and internal organs.