Edwardsiella tarda in freshwater catfish and their environment

Edwardsiella tarda was isolated from 47, 88, and 79% of skin, visceral, and dressed-fish samples, respectively. This species was also isolated from 30% of imported dressed fish, 75% of catfish pond water samples, 64% of catfish pond mud samples, and 100% of frogs, turtles, and crayfish from catfish ponds. The incidence of Edwardsiella increased during the summer months, as water temperatures increased. Of several isolation media evaluated, the most effective was selective enrichment in double-strength Salmonella-Shigella broth and subsequent plating on single-strength Samonella-Shigella agar. The significance of the incidence of Edwardsiella in catfish, catfish disease, and public health could not be substantiated.