Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit., 37,2004
297
BACTERIA OF THE GENUS VIBRIOISOLATED FROM WILD DISEASED FISH IN GREECE
M. Yiagnisis*, M. Alexis, I.N.Vatsos
National Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources, Agios Kosmas, Elliniko, 16604 Athens, Greece
* mayia@ncmr.gr
Abstract
The presence of different species of Vibrioisolated from wild diseased marine fish was investigated. Photobacterium damselaesubsp.
damselae (previous Vibriodamsela) was isolated and identified from the fish species Boops boops, Pagelluserythrinus, Lisaaurataand
Conger conger.In addition,Vibrio ordaliiwas isolated from Serranus scribaand Vibrio splendiduswas isolated fromDiplodus annularis.
These Vibrio species are pathogens of farmed fish as Sparus aurata, Dicentrarchuslabraxand Puntazzo puntazzo. Interestingly, there were
no reports of simultaneous infection of the local farmed fish by the same pathogens. It is suggested that the infected wild fish could act as
reservoir for these bacteria.
Keywords: Vibrio, diseases, wild marine fish, farmed fish, reservoir
Introduction
Several species of the genus Vibrio causediseases in marine fish
populations, both wild and cultured (1). Vibrio species are gram-
negative, halophilic, non-spore-forming bacteria and autochthonous
inhabitants of the marine environment. It is still debatable whether
these bacteria behave as opportunistic or obligatory fish pathogens in
marine environments. Susceptibility to Vibrioinfections is related to
several environmental and other factors, which cause stress to fish (2).
Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (previouslynamed
Vibrio damsela) causes skin ulcers or systemic disease in a wide range
if fish, including blacksmith damselfish, yellowtail, turbot, gilthead
sea bream, and brown shark (3).
Vibrio ordaliiis one of the major causes of vibriosis in wild and
cultured marine salmonids in Japan and the Pacific Northwest of the
United States (4).This bacterium causes a bacterial hemorrhagic
septicemia. In addition, bacterial microcolonies are formed in muscle,
gill and gastrointestinal tract (5).
Vibrio splendidushas been isolated from cultured turbot in Spain,
Atlantic salmon in Scotland, turbot and European sea bass in Norway
(6, 7). It causes a typical bacterial septicemia. In Greece it was
reported for the first time in sea bass and red porgy (8).
In this study we report six different cases of diseased wild fish,
which were examined in the fish pathology laboratory of National
Center for Marine Research. Diagnosis was based on the clinical
appearance of the disease and the laboratory isolation and
identification of thebacterium.
Materials and Methods
During the period of 1997-2001, samples of diseased wild fish
(Lisa aurata, Mugil cephalus, Pagellus erythrinus, Serranus scriba,
Diplodus annularis and Boops boops) from different regions of
Greece were tested bacteriologically. Bacterial isolation was made
from the head kidney. Specimens were cultured in tryptone soy broth,
tryptone soy agar and Cholera medium ?CBS (code CM333 OXOID),
all supplemented with 2% NaCl at 22°C for 24-48h.After incubating
the plates at 22°C for 24-48 h the isolated pure colonies that appeared
were used for the identification of the bacteria. The identification was
done employing standard morphological and biochemical procedures
and the Api 20E (Biomerieux) identification system according to
Alsina & Blank (9).
Results and Discussion
Vibrios are facultive pathogens, which can affect marine fish
causing serious pathological conditions known as vibriosis. All
marine fish are probably susceptible to at least one species of Vibrio
(10). The fish species that were examined and found infected with
vibrios were Lisa aurata, Mugil cephalus, Pagellus erythrinus,
Serranus scriba, Diplodus annularis and Boops boops (Table 1). It is
the first time that these fish species were found infected with these
Vibriospecies in Greece. All fish examined exhibited external skin
lesions (hemorrhages and skin ulcers) Most of the fishes that were
found to be infected with Ph. damselae subsp. damselaealso had ?uid
in the peritoneal cavity (ascites).
Although in most cases of vibriosis, cultured fish are mainly
affected, in the present study no simultaneous infection of cultured
fish in the same area was reported. It is possible, however, that there
are disease interactions between wild and cultured fish, since the
water and the wild fish can act as reservoir for these pathogens. The
horizontal transmission through water of the disease, caused by the
fish pathogen Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, as well as
the role of the skin mucus in the initial steps of the infection have also
been studied by Fouz et al (11).
This is the first report of vibriosis caused by vibrios other than V.
anguillarumin wild fish of Greece. There is need for further
investigation about the exact way of transmission of these bacteria
from wild to cultured fish or the opposite, through water and
sediment.
Table 1. Bacteria of the genus Vibrio, isolated from wild diseased fish.
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