Streptococcus iniae, the Causative Agent of Mass Mortality in RabbitfishSiganus canaliculatusin Bahrain

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Abstract
Streptococcus iniae was found to be responsible for mass mortality in whitespotted rabbitfish Siganus canaliculatus in Bahrain. External signs were listless swimming and dark coloration. Internally, ascites, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were observed. Identification of the bacterium was based upon biochemical, physiological, serological tests and DNA–DNA hybridization. Host susceptibility was examined in five fish species. Rabbitfish was the species most susceptible to streptococcal infection. Borneo mullet Liza macrolepis and brown-spot grouper Epinephelus coioides were also susceptible to the bacterium, whereas the seabream Acanthopagrus latus (known in Bahrain as black seabream) and one-spot bream Diplodus sargus were not.