A novel multiplex PCR method for detecting virulent strains of Vibrio alginolyticus

The bacterial strains obtained from various origins were tested with the novel primers targeting the collagenase gene, ompK gene and toxR gene to establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. These primers successfully recognized all virulent strains of Vibrio alginolyticus, but the avirulent strains were not recognized by the multiplex PCR because of lack of the collagenase and toxR genes. In a 50 μL multiplex PCR mixture, the lowest detection limit is 8.8 × 10² cells of virulent strains of V. alginolyticus. The multiplex PCR method was successfully developed to identify virulent strains of V. alginolyticus, and provides a rapid, sensitive, specific and reliable technology for diagnosing virulent strains of V. alginolyticus. Therefore, the novel multiplex PCR in the present paper can be useful for any laboratory working with vibriosis detection of aquatic animals.     

The high prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio harveyi with multiple antibiotic resistance in scale drop and muscle necrosis disease of the hybrid grouper,Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (♀) × E. lanceolatus (♂), in China

Scale drop and muscle necrosis disease with high mortality widely occurred recently in the hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂), a crucial cultured marine fish species in China. In this study, 30 Harveyi clade isolates of 27 Vibrio harveyi strains were isolated from diseased hybrid groupers in the south‐east and north‐east coastal areas of China. A total of 22 V. harveyi strains were determined to be pathogenic, and most challenged fish died within 2 days of infection; surviving individuals exhibited scale drop and deep dermal lesions as naturally diseased fish. Although five typical virulence genes, including luxR, toxR_Vh, chiA, serine protease and vhh widely existed in V. harveyi, no obvious correlation was established between virulent strains and virulence genes harboured in them. Furthermore, multiple antibiotic resistance was widely exhibited in Harveyi clade strains, particularly for penicillins, polypeptides, lincomycins, acetylspiramycin, streptomycin, metronidazole and bacitracin. And the multiple antibiotic resistance indices were gradually decreased from southern to northern areas of China. This study demonstrated that the pathogenic V. harveyi with multiple antibiotic resistance is highly prevalent in hybrid grouper in China, which requires particular attention.     

Virulence‐associated factors in Vibrio cholerae non‐O1/non‐O139 and V. mimicus strains isolated in ornamental fish species

During recent decades, ornamental fish have proven to be one of the fastest growing categories of pets in Europe. In this framework, we evaluated both the potential pathogenic and zoonotic risks caused by 53 Vibrio cholerae non‐O1/non‐O139 and a Vibrio mimicus strain isolated from ornamental fish species mostly originating from South‐East Asia countries between 2000 and 2015 in Italy. All the strains were firstly identified at species level by biochemical, phylogenetic and mass spectrometry (matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight) methods, and then studied to reveal the presence of the main virulence and colonization‐associated factors, as ctxA, ace, zot, stn/sto, toxR, rtxA, hlyA and tcpA by multiplex and single endpoint PCR assays. Findings showed that 21 of 54 strains harboured at least one virulence factor with a predominance for the toxR⁺, rtxA⁺ and hlyAET⁺ genotype. Interestingly, the V. mimicus strain harboured the colonization factor and the CTX prophage receptor, tcpA, indicating the ability to capture and integrate it in its genome increasing its pathogenicity. Although these enterotoxins can sporadically cause gastroenteritis, the results highlight their probable involvement in causing severe implications for public health, suggesting the need for an European microbiological monitoring.     

Impact of a reduced water salinity on the composition of Vibrio spp. in recirculating aquaculture systems for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and its possible risks for shrimp health and food safety

Tropical shrimp, like Litopenaeus vannamei, in land‐based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are often kept at low water salinities to reduce costs for artificial sea salt and the amount of salty wastewater. Although these shrimp are tolerant against low salinities, innate immunity suppression and changes in the microbial composition in the water can occur. As especially Vibrio spp. are relevant for shrimp health, alterations in the species composition of the Vibrio community were analysed in water from six RAS, run at 15‰ or 30‰. Additionally, pathogenicity factors including pirA/B, VPI, toxR, toxS, vhh, vfh, tdh, trh, flagellin genes and T6SS1/2 of V. parahaemolyticus were analysed. The Vibrio composition differed significantly depending on water salinity. In RAS at 15‰, higher numbers of the potentially pathogenic species V. parahaemolyticus, V. owensii and V. campbellii were detected, and especially in V. parahaemolyticus, various pathogenicity factors were present. A reduced salinity may therefore pose a higher risk of disease outbreaks in shrimp RAS. Because some of the detected pathogenicity factors are relevant for human health, this might also affect food safety. In order to produce healthy shrimp as a safe food for human consumption, maintaining high water salinities seems to be recommendable.     

Identification and Detection of the Pathogenic Bacteria Responsible for Swollen Abdomen Disease in Cultured Turbot,Scophthalmus maximus,and Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus

Swollen abdomen disease (SAD) seriously threatens the aquaculture of turbots and flounders. Two dominant bacterial strains, FS1 and FS2, were isolated from the livers and kidneys of fish with diagnosed SAD. Applications of biochemical analyses, sequence analyses of 16S ribosomal RNA gene and heat shock protein 60 gene revealed two distinct pathogenic bacterial species, Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio alginolyticus. These two hypothesized SAD‐causing pathogens were validated by challenge trials on flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Challenges with E. tarda and V. alginolyticus demonstrated lethal dose 50 (LD₅₀) values at 1.51 × 10⁵ colony‐forming units (CFU) and 1.05 × 10⁵ CFU, respectively. To develop a rapid SAD diagnosis method in flounders and turbots, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay method was developed to simultaneously detect E. tarda and V. alginolyticus. Our multiplex PCR assay successfully detected as low as 10⁵ CFU/mL E. tarda and V. alginolyticus in flounders and turbots. No other common fish pathogens were detected with the multiplex PCR, suggesting a high specificity of this assay. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study showed a great reliability in detecting SAD‐causing bacterial pathogens. Further optimization of this assay may contribute to the development of a novel SAD diagnosis tool in aquaculture.     

Selection of lactic acid bacteria as candidate probiotics for Vibrio parahaemolyticus depuration in pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

The application of probiotics in food is now widespread and is widely accepted by consumers. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were isolated from traditional salted fish and then characterized by its ability to inhibit Vibrio parahaemolyticus growth using minimal inhibitory concentration tests. Five out of these strains were identified as Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus casei and three Lactobacillus gasseri by PCR using 16S and 23S rRNA genes. Antibiofilm activity of Lactobacillus spp. extracts were also tested in 96 polystyrene plates. A potential antibiofilm effect was demonstrated as most LAB. Although most LAB extract were able to eradicate pre‐formed biofilm, results demonstrated that five Lactobacillus spp. exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect against V. parahaemolyticus in infected oysters. Vibrio parahaemolyticus viable cells number declined from 10⁶ UFC to 10⁴ UFC after 3 days of incubation with Lactobacillus spp. Probiotic applications, in biological control of seafood associated pathogens can be an alternative solution, providing consumer with a product of good quality owing to the use of non‐toxic compounds. Based on our results, LAB could be used as a bioprotective culture in oyster's depuration to prevent V. parahaemolyticus growth.     

半滑舌鳎溃疡病病原菌的分离、鉴定及其致病性分析

采用2216E和TCBS培养基分别从患溃疡病半滑舌鳎的肠道和体表病灶分离获得菌株40株,经血平板检验分离菌株的溶血活性,体外筛选并鉴定出3株潜在致病性菌株,即哈维氏弧菌、溶藻弧菌以及副溶血性弧菌。通过将3株潜在致病菌与健康半滑舌鳎的肠道上皮细胞共培养,检测病原菌刺激后半滑舌鳎肠道上皮细胞相关免疫基因的相对表达量及共培养后肠道上皮细胞的凋亡率,对病原菌的致病性进行细胞水平的筛选。结果显示,经哈维氏弧菌刺激后肠道上皮细胞白介素10基因(IL-10)表达量极显著上调,说明哈维氏弧菌引起的共培养上皮细胞免疫反应最为剧烈,且哈维氏弧菌与肠道上皮细胞共培养后导致细胞的凋亡率高达48.3%,其次为溶藻弧菌(36%)和副溶血性弧菌(34.5%),推测哈维氏弧菌为半滑舌鳎溃疡病高致病性弧菌。通过对半滑舌鳎进行浸浴回感实验,结果发现,哈维氏弧菌、溶藻弧菌和副溶血性弧菌人工回感后第6天半滑舌鳎的累计死亡率分别为100%、95%和75%,与细胞水平检测结果相吻合。实验表明,所筛选到的3株弧菌均具有较强的毒性和致病性,尤其以哈维氏弧菌致病性最强,并由此推测半滑舌鳎溃疡病可能由多种致病菌共同感染所致。     

Occurrence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus among milkfish farms in Zanzibar

ABSTRACT

Fishing is among the main economic activities of the people of Zanzibar. Few fish dealers are transforming this sector into mariculture. Among the farmed fish is milkfish. Diseases are among the limiting factors in the development of the mariculture industry. Among other zoonotic diseases, vibriosis is caused by bacteria from the genus Vibrio. This study aimed to establish the occurrence of Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio parahaemolyticus among milkfish farms in Zanzibar. A total of 380 milkfish were sampled. Swabs were collected from gills, intestine, and kidney of each sampled milkfish. Preliminary identification of V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus was done by biochemical tests. PCR was run on 16S rRNA, outer membrane protein W, and collagenase genes to confirm Vibrio species, V. cholerae, and V. parahaemolyticus respectively. Almost one-third (32.1%) of all sampled milkfish were found to contain targeted Vibrio; 18% and 29.5% of the sampled milkfish were positive for V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus respectively.     

创伤弧菌物种特异性检测靶标基因的发掘及评价

实验根据GenBank公布的细菌全基因组数据,采用比较基因组学分析创伤弧菌与其它细菌基因组间的差异,筛选出34个潜在的创伤弧菌物种特异性检测靶标基因,其中VV1_2692、VV2_0075和VV2_0939这3个基因已有功能注释.常规PCR扩增结果显示这3个基因均具有良好的特异性和灵敏度.进而以这3个基因和传统靶基因vvhA作为检测靶标,采用常规PCR技术检测来自杭州市农贸市场的137份海产品中创伤弧菌,发现VV2_0075、VV2_0939和vvhA基因的检测结果与传统生化鉴定方法一致,表明新发掘的VV2_0075和VV2_0939基因在对海产品中创伤弧菌检测时具有很好的稳定性和很强的抗干扰能力.在137份海产品中创伤弧菌的检出率为28.5％,其中牡蛎的检出率最高(68％),表明杭州市农贸市场售卖的海产品,尤其是牡蛎中的创伤弧菌污染现状严重,应加强对杭州市海产品中创伤弧菌污染状况的监测.     

对虾养殖场底泥中副溶血性弧菌的接合型质粒多样性及其与毒力之间的关系

为了阐明引起急性肝胰腺坏死病(acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease, AHPND)副溶血性弧菌的接合型质粒在对虾养殖环境中的遗传多样性,实验从中国5个沿海省份的虾场收集了100个底泥样品,以质粒上编码接合转移蛋白的保守基因为目标,利用PCR法检测相关质粒的存在情况,并对质粒进行测序。结果显示,100个样品中有39个样品含有质粒的接合转移蛋白片段。从100个底泥样品中分离出15株副溶血性弧菌,其中13株含有1～2个质粒。质粒序列测序结果显示,这些质粒可分为8种类型/谱型,其中7种不携带pirAB,但均含有编码接合转移的基因簇。根据分离副溶血性弧菌携带质粒的8种谱型,分别选择8株副溶血性弧菌进行凡纳滨对虾攻毒实验,发现这些菌株对凡纳滨对虾的毒性有显著差异,实验虾死亡率为15%～100%。只有pirAB阳性菌株会对实验虾产生AHPND症状,死亡率为100%。对质粒组成进行分析表明,质粒之间遗传物质交换频繁,大部分质粒的遗传组成都来自一个183 kb的超大质粒pVP2HP。综上,本实验通过探究对虾养殖场底泥中结合性质粒的多样性,增强了人们对副溶血性弧菌...     

Multilocus sequence analysis of Vibrionaceae isolated from farmed amberjack and the development of a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of pathogenic species

Since 2011, high mortality rates and symptoms consistent with vibriosis have been observed in farmed amberjack (Seriola dumerili) in Japan. To identify 41 strains isolated from diseased amberjack, a multilocus sequence analysis using nine concatenated genes (ftsZ, gapA, gyrB, mreB, pyrH, recA, rpoA, topA and 16S rRNA) was conducted. Twenty‐seven strains were identified as Vibrio harveyi, suggesting an epidemic of V. harveyi infection in amberjack farms. Other strains were identified as Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio owensii and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae. To develop an efficient diagnostic method for vibriosis in amberjack, a multiplex PCR system was developed to identify V. anguillarum, V. harveyi and P. damselae subsp. damselae. The method successfully discriminated between these three bacterial species, with amplification products of 350 bp for V. anguillarum, 545 bp for V. harveyi and 887 bp for P. damselae subsp. damselae and can be used for diagnosis in aquaculture farms.     

Strain and dose infectivity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: the causative agent of early mortality syndrome in shrimp

Diseases of shrimp have contributed to billions of dollars of economic loss in the aquaculture industry. Newly emerging strains of the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus produce a condition in shrimp called early mortality syndrome or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease. Three different V. parahaemolyticus strains were evaluated for their respective pathogenicity on shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, when the bacterial strains were grown under various laboratory conditions prior to inoculating shrimp. For each trial, feed was inoculated with a known concentration of bacteria and then fed to the shrimp. The early mortality syndrome strain of V. parahaemolyticus was the most lethal resulting up to 100% mortality within 24 h after being introduced to shrimp via a single feeding. The other two strains of Vibrio, one isolated from the environment and the other from a human clinical case, resulted in 0% and 30% mortality within 96 h respectively. The concentration of the early mortality syndrome strain of V. parahaemolyticus that the shrimp were exposed to directly correlated with mortality rate, which allowed for lethal or sublethal short‐term disease challenge assays to be established. Infiltration of haemocytes was also evident in the midgut caeca of shrimp infected with the early mortality syndrome strain of V. parahaemolyticus, which has not been previously reported.     

In vitro and in vivo selection of probiotic purple nonsulphur bacteria with an ability to inhibit shrimp pathogens: acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease‐causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other vibrios

Shrimp cultivation has been faced with huge losses in productivity caused by infectious shrimp pathogenic vibrios, especially Vibrio parahaemolyticus that causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Hence, purple nonsulphur bacteria (PNSB) were isolated from shrimp ponds for investigating their abilities to control shrimp pathogenic Vibrio spp. and their use as probiotics for sustainable shrimp cultivation. Based on their probiotic properties, strains S3W10 and SS15 were selected because of their strong abilities to produce amylase, gelatinase and vitamin B12. However, only three PNSB strains (SS15, TKW17 and STW181) strongly inhibited V. harveyi_KSAAHRC and V. vulnificus_KSAAHRC including V. parahaemolyticusAHPND strains by secreting antivibrio compounds. Four selected PNSB also grew in the presence of pancreatic enzymes, and they were identified as Rhodobacter sphaeroides for strains S3W10, SS15 and TKW17 and Afifella marina for strain STW181. The effects of a mixed culture were also investigated as follows: T1 (S3W10 + SS15), T2 (S3W10 + TKW17) and T3 (S3W10 + STW181) on postlarval white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) for 60 days by comparison with a control. All three probiotic PNSB sets significantly improved the digestive enzyme activities and shrimp growth with their proliferation in shrimp gastrointestinal tract although the shrimp survival was not significantly different. They also significantly reduced the cumulative mortality of shrimp exposed to a virulent AHPND strain (V. parahaemolyticusSR2). This is the first to conclude that selected probiotic PNSB strains have great potential to be used for shrimp cultivation to control vibrios including AHPND strains.     

The first record of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in the Philippines

A new and emerging disease is threatening the shrimp industry, a bacterial disease which contains a highly pathogenic plasmid, creating a deadly toxin that causes high mortality in shrimps. The disease has been identified as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) or commonly known as early mortality syndrome (EMS). To help the efforts of sustaining the shrimp industry, the study focused on detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing AHPND/EMS affecting Penaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (Fabricius 1798) (Black Tiger shrimp) in different locations in the Philippines. The presence of the disease was determined by microbiological methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was confirmed by the histopathology of the hepatopancreas of infected shrimp. Results show that the prevalence of the pathogenic strain of V. parahaemolyticus from the shrimps collected were 33% in Luzon, 21% in Visayas and 5% in Mindanao. The study presents the first record of AHPND/EMS in the country. The detection of this newly emerging disease in the shrimp industry is very crucial as it is the first step in identifying affected sites towards strategizing ways to combat the disease.     

Isolation and partial characterization of bacteriophages infecting Vibrio harveyi from shrimp farm effluent water

Bacteriophage isolated from the semi-intensive culture of Pacific white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei infects the luminous bacteria Vibrio harveyi. Lytic activity and lytic spectrum results revealed that the isolated phage had strong lytic activity in V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus. Biofilm inhibition activity was performed against different pathogenic vibrios on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) template and the result revealed that the phage effectively inhibited the biofilm formation in V. harveyi. Spectrophotometric assay performed for lytic activity of the isolated phage in V. harveyi liquid culture showed that the phage significantly decreased the V. harveyi cell densities at different time intervals (P?<?0.05). To study the stability of phage at different temperature and pH revealed that the phage withstands the temperature ranged between 40 and 70 °C and the pH of 4 and 9 at a significant level (P?<?0.001). One-step growth curve depicted that the burst size gradually increased to a significant level and reached the maximum of 90% at 180 min (P?<?0.05). This study concluded that the isolated phage had specific activity against pathogenic V. harveyi infections.

     

Identification and typing of Vagococcus salmoninarum using genomic and proteomic techniques

This study reports on the characterization of Vagococcus salmoninarum using phenotypic, serological, antigenic, genetic and proteomic methods. All strains of V. salmoninarum were resistant to most of the antimicrobials tested, and only 10% of strains were sensitive to florfenicol. Serological analysis demonstrated a high antigenic homogeneity within the species. No cross‐reaction was detected with other fish pathogenic species causing streptococcosis (Lactococcus garvieae, Streptococcus parauberis, Streptococcus iniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum) using serum against V. salmoninarum CECT 5810. Electrophoretic analysis of cell surface proteins and immunoblot supported the antigenic homogeneity within V. salmoninarum strains. Moreover, limited diversity was detected using genomic (RAPD, ERIC‐PCR and REP‐PCR) and MALDI‐TOF‐MS analyses. The phenotypic, genomic and proteomic methods tested allowed the rapid differentiation of V. salmoninarum from the other species causing streptococcosis. However, MALDI‐TOF‐MS is the most promising method for typing and characterization of V. salmoninarum.     

Characterization and pathogenicity studies of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from diseased freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an important pathogen of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii causes high mortality. Four strains of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from the gill, haepatopancreas, hemolymph and carapace of diseased prawn. The species were characterized based on biochemical and serological tests. On performing an antibiotic assay, these strains were found to be highly susceptible to cephalaxin, tetracycline and erythomycin. During the in vitro pathogenicity test, all the strains were found to be positive to the Congo red binding assay and to be haemolytic in nature, whereas an in vivo pathogenicity test revealed that 2 × 10⁹ CFUs mL^?1of bacteria induced disease symptoms such as black colouration on the carapace, red discolouration of the exoskeleton and loss of appendages within 6 days and 80% mortality. In histopathological studies, a prominent necrosis was seen in gill lamellae, and branchial arches were thickened at places due to hyperplasia and haemocytic infiltration. Hepatopancreatic tissue showed dilation of tubules, vacuolation of hepatocytes and marked necrosis in acinar cells. Development of an immunological technique for the detection and screening of V. parahaemolyticus infection and its treatment is highly important in freshwater prawn aquaculture.     

Identification of Vibrio harveyi,Vibrio ichthyoenteri,and Photobacterium damselae isolated from olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Korea by multiplex PCR developed using the rpoB gene

Major fish bacterial diseases in Korea are edwardsiellosis, streptococcosis, and vibriosis. Among vibrionaceae, Listonella anguillarum, Vibrio harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and Photobacterium damselae were identified as causative organisms of vibriosis in flounder. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR method using the RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) gene, known as a housekeeping gene for identification of Vibrio spp. causing vibriosis in flounder. Three pairs of PCR primers were designed based on the rpoB sequence of three species, V. harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and P. damselae. The PCR assay, using a mixture of six primers, yielded amplicons of 601, 434, and 533 bp in V. harveyi, V. ichthyoenteri, and P. damselae. None of the untargeted species yielded an amplicon. The detection limits for pure culture in kidney were 2.5 × 10⁴ cfu/g kidney for V. harveyi, 2.5 × 10⁵ cfu/g kidney for V. ichthyoenteri, and 2.5 × 10⁶ cfu/g kidney for P. damselae. From the colonies on TCBS agar plates of different samples, 632 Vibrio spp. isolated from aquacultured flounder between 2004 and 2010 were identified by the multiplex PCR method. As a result, 265 strains (41.9 %) were V. ichthyoenteri; 115 strains (18.2 %) were V. harveyi and 72 strains (11.4 %) were P. damselae.     

Characteristics of marine vibrios isolated from fish farm tanks

Twenty-five cultures of organisms (grouped into presumptive V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus strains) isolated from tank water used to farm marine fish were subjected to a series of preliminary tests for the identification of V. parahaemoliticus. None were positively identified as this organism. Consequently the isolates, following their characterization as Gram-negative, motile, oxidase-positive rods which were fermentative without the production of gas, together with ten named Vibrio spp., were subjected to various tests and the results were subjected to computer analysis.They were sorted into clusters and it was found that both the presumptive V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus groups were largely homogeneous. The analysis also showed that the presumptive V. parahaemolyticus strains and one presumptive V. alginolyticus strain were best classified as V. parahaemolyticus and that all but one of the presumptive V. alginolyticus strains would have been best classified as V. anguillarum. The named V. alginolyticus strains proved to be a heterogeneous group and were not closely related to any other group of organisms. The significance of the occurrence of Vibrio spp. in tank water used to farm marine fish, especially when this water is heated power station effluent, is discussed.