First isolation of Edwardsiella ictaluri from cultured striped catfish Pangasius hypophthalmus in Indonesia

In February 2002, mass mortalities were first observed among striped catfish Pangasius hypophthalmus reared in freshwater ponds of central Sumatra, Indonesia. The affected fish showed pale gills, abdominal swelling and hemorrhage of the skin, as well as swelling of internal organs with white patches. Edwardsiella ictaluri was isolated from the internal organs of the diseased fish. The isolates showed pathogenicity to P. hypophthalmus by an artificial infection. However, the isolate preserved in a semisolid BHI agar for 6 months lost pathogenicity.