Characterization of <i>Vibrio</i> Populations from Cultured European Seabass and the Surrounding Marine Environment with Emphasis on <i>V</i>. <i>anguillarum</i>

<i>Vibrio</i> species are widely distributed and can be potentially pathogenic to aquatic organisms. In this study, we isolated <i>Vibrio</i> spp. from environmental samples (seawater, sediment, and fish swabs) collected over a three-year period from a fish farm in Mali Ston...

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Main Authors: Damir Kapetanović, Irena Vardić Smrzlić, Ana Gavrilović, Jurica Jug-Dujaković, Lorena Perić, Snježana Kazazić, Tea Mišić Radić, Anamarija Kolda, Milan Čanković, Jakov Žunić, Eddy Listeš, Darija Vukić Lušić, Atle Lillehaug, Semir Lončarević, Kristina Pikelj, Brigita Hengl, Dražen Knežević, Mansour El-Matbouli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/11/2159
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Summary:<i>Vibrio</i> species are widely distributed and can be potentially pathogenic to aquatic organisms. In this study, we isolated <i>Vibrio</i> spp. from environmental samples (seawater, sediment, and fish swabs) collected over a three-year period from a fish farm in Mali Ston Bay in the Adriatic Sea, Croatia, and assess their distribution. A total of 48 seawater samples and 12 sediment samples, as well as gill and skin swabs from 110 farmed European seabass, were analysed for the presence of <i>Vibrio</i>. <i>Vibrio</i> strains were identified to the species level by MALDI TOF MS. The analysis revealed that <i>V</i>. <i>alginolyticus</i> was the predominant species in European seabass, followed by <i>V</i>. <i>anguillarum</i>. <i>V</i>. <i>alginolyticus</i> was isolated from the sediments, along with <i>V</i>. <i>gigantis</i> and <i>V</i>. <i>pomeroyi</i>, while <i>V</i>. <i>chagasii</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>cyclitrophicus</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>fortis</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>gigantis</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>harveyi</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>pelagius</i>, and <i>V</i>. <i>pomeroyi</i> were isolated from seawater. <i>V</i>. <i>anguillarum</i> was isolated only twice during two different spring seasons, once from a diseased sea bass and the second time from a healthy sea bass. We analysed these two isolates and found that they differ both genetically and in terms of resistance to antibiotics. Our results confirm the seasonality of vibriosis incidence and the presence of the pathogenic <i>V</i>. <i>anguillarum</i>, which increases the risk of vibriosis.
ISSN:2076-2607