DefinePK

Abstract

Fish products are very susceptible to microbial contamination, rendering them perishable thus challenging the customers health. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular identification and bacterial isolates diversity obtained from infected fish skin, gills, and fins obtained from lakes Alzarkan village in Wasit Province of Iraq during the period (October 2021- May 2022). A total of 50 fish were collected and 100 samples of organ lesions were taken. For bacterial identification, the tissuees of the fish were as cut with a sterile knife and blended in the buffered peptone water. Molecular identification and the obtained PCR product were are subjected to using the primers for Flavobacterium columnare, Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas salmonicida. Molecular analyseis revealed bacterial strains high proportion of Flavobacterium columnare identification was 20/50 (40%). The higher identification rates of Flavobacterium columnare in skin 10/20 (5%), in gills 7/20 (35%) and in fins 3/20 (15%). Accurate identification of the 20 isolated Flavobacterium columnare were confirmed by PCR. For identifying certain diseases, molecular approaches provided sensitive, rapid, and precise data without the need for time-consuming traditional techniques. The Edwardsiella ictaluri and Aeromonas salmonicida were not identified. While Flavobacterium columnare termed to be first molecular proof as a farmed fish pathogen in Iraq