Observation and experimental study of typical mycobacteria in fresh water and salt water aquaria

Water is a natural habitat of mycobacteria. In aquaria 3 species of atypical mycobacteria are frequently present: Mycobacterium marinum, M. kansasii and M. fortuitum . They are potential pathogen for fishes and men. Tuberculosis has been recognized as the cause of mortality in marine and fresh water fishes. Clinical sings of fish tuberculosis are variable: ascites, skin ulcerations, skeletal deformities. The human infection is cutaneous granuloma occurring after injury in aquaria. Many factors have an influence on the number of mycobacterial organisms in aquaria waters: number of fishes per tank, decontamination system, salinity, temperature. To determine the consequence of each factor, a study has been conducted at the "Aquarium du Musee de Zoologie de Nancy".