Vibrionaceae Representatives

Abstract

Vibrios have emerged as the scourge of marine fish (Figs. 11.1 and 11.2) and shellfish. Renewed interest has resulted in the description of new species and a better understanding of the biology of long-recognised taxa. To date, many species have been described as fish pathogens. In addition, hard-to-speciate Vibrio have been regularly recovered (e.g. Yasunobu et al. 1988; Masumura et al. 1989; Muroga et al. 1990; Nagai et al. 2008) and may represent new taxa. There is controversy over the role of V. parahaemolyticus as a fish pathogen, and we are not entirely satisfied with the evidence; therefore for the purpose of this chapter, it has been concluded that the organism does not constitute a bona fide fish pathogen, although it remains a serious problem of marine invertebrates, principally penaeid shrimp. One article has mentioned challenging tilapia with V. parahaemolyticus, but there was insufficient information about the authenticity of the isolates (Balfry et al. 1997). However, organisms with intermediate characteristics between V. alginolyticus and V. parahaemolyticus have been recovered from diseased milkfish in the Philippines (Muroga et al. 1984a). A publication has suggested that V. campbellii, V. nereis and V. tubiashii may be associated with disease in gilt-head sea bream in Spain (Balebona et al. 1998). However, confirmation is desirable before these taxa become recognised as bona fide fish pathogens. In the taxonomic study of Austin et al. (1997), a single isolate from Atlantic salmon in Tasmania was equated with V. aestuarianus using the diagnostic scheme of Alsina and Blanch (1994 a, b). By phenotypic means, more isolates were associated with disease in gilt-head sea bream in Spain (Balebona et al. 1998). V. chagassi has been associated with skin haemorrhages of sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) in Italy, albeit in a mixed community with V. anguillarum and V. harveyi, but pathogenicity was not proven (Fabbro et al. 2011).