Pathogenic and Opportunistic Vibrio spp. Associated with Vibriosis Incidences in the Greek Aquaculture: The Role of Vibrio harveyi as the Principal Cause of Vibriosis

Abstract

A monitoring program to follow vibriosis incidents in the Greek marine aquaculture was implemented over the past 13 years. 273 isolates, from various cases originating from eight regions and nine hosts, were collected and characterized. The main aquaculture species of the survey were the European seabass (<i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i>) and the gilthead seabream (<i>Sparus aurata</i>). Various species of <i>Vibrionaceae</i> were associated with vibriosis. <i>Vibrio harveyi</i> had the highest prevalence and was isolated throughout the year from all hosts. During the warm months, <i>Vibrio harveyi</i> prevailed with frequent co-isolations of <i>Photobacterium damselae</i> subsp. <i>damselae</i> and <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i>, while during spring, other <i>Vibrio</i> species were more abundant, such as <i>Vibrio lentus, Vibrio cyclitrophicus,</i> and <i>Vibrio gigantis.</i> Phylogenetic analysis using the <i>mreB</i> gene and the metabolic fingerprint of the isolates showed great variability within the species of the collection. The severity of the disease and the frequency of outbreaks make vibriosis (that is, mainly attributed to <i>V. harveyi</i>) an important concern for the regional aquaculture sector.