Edwardsiella tarda- The Despised Threat to Nigerian Aquaculture and Human Health: A Review

Impediment to the aquaculture industry and consequently, impoverishment of the Nigerian populace can be attributed to several factors ranging from managemental to infectious or noninfectious. Despite the abundantly blessed land capacity and nourishment, the industry continues to face several losses. As part of the very important infectious agents known to cause high morbidity and mortality across several fish species is Edwardsiella tarda. E. tarda is directly associated with enteric septicemia in several fish species and ages. Infections caused by this bacterium is usually presented as gastrointestinal (gastroenteritis) and extra-intestinal (myonecrosis, bacteremia and septic arthritis) infections. E. tarda is an economic and public health threat because of its extensive impacts on the aquaculture industry as well as its ability to cause severe human infections such as diarrhea, gastroenteritis, typhoid-like illness, peritonitis with sepsis, cellulitis and meningitis. Furthermore, they are associated with the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and animal population. The threat posed by this bacterium have necessitated this current review on the overview of the risk factors and the presence of the organism in Nigeria. An elucidation into the bacterium, its epidemiology, threat to aquaculture industry and the global population are reviewed and the probable ways to control the presence of the organism are also discussed. Novel genetic engineering of the genes of the organism as a vital tool to drug and vaccine development are germane in this current age as a useful tool and strategy to have a world safe and in health. In conclusion, this review highlighted the necessary steps and approach to mitigate the bacterium and safe the Nigerian aquaculture from the emergence of a fatal infectious disease from fishes to human, as well as improvement in global trading.