Vibriosis of Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus in Larviculture

Since 1985, frequent mass mortalities due to a bacterial infection have occurred in zoeal larvae of swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus reared at the Tamano Station of the Japan Sea-Farming Association. A bacterium was predominantly isolated from diseased larvae and was demonstrated by experimental infection to be the causative agent of the disease. Based on morphological, physiological, biochemical, serological and genetic characteristics of the pathogen, it was thought to be a new species and tentatively named Vibrio sp. Zoea. Challenge experiments with the bacterium in several aquatic animals indicate that Vibrio sp. Zoea appears to be a pathogen specific for crustaceans.     

The effects of Vibrio anguillarum extracellular products on Japanese eels

To test the effect of Vibrio anguillarum extracellular products (ECP) on Japanese eels, test fish were injected intramuscularly with ECP at a dose of 1 mg protein/100 g body weight of fish. At 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 h post-injection, blood samples were collected for haematocrit, haemoglobin, and serum protein determinations and tissues were fixed in Bouin's solution. Histopathological observations 24 h post-injection revealed that the ECP caused severe damage to muscle tissue, characterized by extensive muscle liquefaction and haemorrhaging. In addition, extensive haemosiderin deposits were observed in the spleen, with lesser deposits occurring in the kidney and liver. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, and serum protein values were lower in ECP-treated fish than in the untreated controls.