Bacteriophage control of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis.

Two previously isolated phages were used to examine the therapeutic effects against Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection in ayu Plecoglossus altivelis. Phage PPp-W4 (Podoviridae) inhibited the in vitro growth of P. plecoglossicida more effectively than Phage PPpW-3 (Myoviridae), and a mixture (PPpW-3/W-4) of the 2 phages exhibited the highest inhibitory activity. In phage therapy experiments, ayu were fed P. plecoglossicida-impregnated feed (10(7) CFU fish(-1)) and then fed phage-impregnated feed (10(7) PFU fish(-1)). Mortalities of fish receiving PPpW-3, PPpW-4, PPpW-3/W-4, and a control fish receiving no phages were 53.3, 40.0, 20.0 and 93.3%, respectively. Phage (PPpW-3/W-4)-receiving fish also showed high protection against water-borne infection with P. plecoglossicida. In a field trial, when phage (PPpW-3/W-4)-impregnated feed was administered to ayu in a pond where the disease occurred naturally, daily mortality of fish decreased at a constant level (5% d(-1)) to one-third after a 2 wk period. The causal relationship of phages in this phenomenon was verified by the long-lasting appearance of administered phages in the kidneys of the fish, and a disappearance of P. plecoglossicida from apparently healthy fish. Neither phage-resistant organisms nor phage-neutralizing antibodies were detected in diseased fish or apparently healthy fish, respectively. These results indicate the potential for phage control of the disease.