Infectious gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio harveyi (V. carchariae ) in cultured red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

Abstract

Summary An outbreak of serious mortality among the cultured red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (L.) characterized by a swollen intestine containing transparent yellow fluid (ascites and gastroenteritis) occurred in July 2000 in Taiwan. A motile strain Rd 0700 was isolated from head kidney and/or the intestinal yellow fluid on tryptone soya agar (TSA) supplemented with 2% (w/v) NaCl and/or thiosulfate citrate bile salt (TCBS) sucrose agar plates. Applying biochemical characteristics, this strain was characterized and identified as Vibrio harveyi (V. carchariae). The bacteria could be re‐isolated from kidney, liver, and the transparent yellow fluid of swollen intestine of fish after bacterial challenge. The LD50 values of the organism and its extracellular products (ECP) were 2.9×107 colony forming units (CFU) and 3.85 μg protein g−1 fish body weight, respectively. All moribund/dead fish exhibited gastroenteritis except those killed within 12 h. This is a first report showing that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of the ECP from V. carchariae is lethal to red drum and can reproduce gastroenteritis in the fish.

Identification of Vibrio harveyi isolated from diseased cultured wedge sole Dicologoglossa cuneata

“…It is one of the most frequently isolated marine Vibrio species (Arias et al 1999, Pujalte et al 1999 and has been considered the main causative agent of luminous vibriosis, which affects a diverse range of marine invertebrates, especially cultured larval and juvenile penaeid shrimp, resulting in severe economic losses (Liu et al 1996, Robertson et al 1998, Diggles et al 2000. This bacterium has been also reported as a serious pathogen causing significant mortalities in various fish species over a wide geographical area (Saeed 1995, Hispano et al 1997, Company et al 1999, Zhang & Austin 2000, Liu et al 2003, Arijo et al 2005. Nevertheless, although some strains are highly pathogenic to aquatic fauna, other strains may be considered opportunistic pathogens (Oakey et al 2003).…”

Probiotic actions of Bacillus cereus var. toyoi and Saccharomyces boulardii in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) larvae culture

“…The B. toyoi inhibitory effect observed to V. carchariae represents a very important step in order to utilize it as probiotic. This pathogen is an important agent causing gastroenteritis in fish and can lead them to death (Yii et al, 1997;Liu et al, 2003). Thus, it is very important reduce its concentration in culture of aquatic microorganisms.…”

Bacteriophage remediation of bacterial pathogens in aquaculture: a review of the technology

“…It is probably best known as the epidemiological agent responsible for luminosis vibriosis in shrimp, a disease characterized by slow growth, loss of appetite, and high shrimp mortality. It has also been associated with diseases in abalone (Haliotis tuberculata), 61 cobia (Rachycentron canadum), 62 rock lobster (Jasus verreauxi), 63 grouper (Epinephelus coioides), 64 red drum (Scaienops ocellatus), 65 salmonids, 66 summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), 67 pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima), 68 and other species of fish and shellfish. Depending on the fish and shellfish species, V. harveyi can also cause a host of other symptoms ranging from hemorrhaging, necrotizing enteritis, and gastroenteritis, to high mortalities without overt symptoms.…”