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. 1998 Nov;64(11):4269-75.
doi: 10.1128/AEM.64.11.4269-4275.1998.

Pathogenicity of Vibrio alginolyticus for cultured gilt-head sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

M C Balebona  1 , M J Andreu, M A Bordas, I Zorrilla, M A Moriñigo, J J Borrego
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Pathogenicity of Vibrio alginolyticus for cultured gilt-head sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

M C Balebona et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1998 Nov.

Abstract

The in vivo and in vitro pathogenic activities of whole cells and extracellular products of Vibrio alginolyticus for cultured gilt-head sea bream were evaluated. The 50% lethal doses ranged from 5.4 x 10(4) to 1.0 x 10(6) CFU/g of body weight. The strains examined had the ability to adhere to skin, gill, and intestinal mucus of sea bream and to cultured cells of a chinook salmon embryo cell line. In addition, the in vitro ability of V. alginolyticus to adhere to mucus and skin cells of sea bream was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The biological activities of extracellular products of V. alginolyticus were hydrolytic activities; the products were able to degrade sea bream mucus. V. alginolyticus was cytotoxic for fish cell lines and lethal for sea bream. Moreover, the extracellular products could degrade sea bream tissues. However, experiments performed with the bath immersion inoculation technique demonstrated that V. alginolyticus should be considered a pathogen for sea bream only when the mucus layer is removed and the skin is damaged.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Photomicrographs of hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections from sea bream, showing the histopathological effects of injection of V. alginolyticus extracellular products into muscle tissue. (A) Panoramic view of tissue damage in a region close to the injection site (arrow). SP, spine; S, skin. Bar = 100 μm. (B) Detail of the area in panel A surrounded by a box, showing necrosis and liquefaction of tissues. Bar = 50 μm. (C) Intact muscle fibers from a control fish. Bar = 25 μm. (D) Muscle fibers affected by extracellular products. Tissue degeneration and invasion of connective tissue cells are evident. Bar = 25 μm. (E) Macrophage infiltration (arrows) in areas affected by extracellular products. Bar = 10 μm.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
Scanning electron photomicrograph showing adhesion of V. alginolyticus cells to mucus on the sea bream skin surface (A) and sea bream epidermal cells (B). Bars = 50 μm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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