499
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
B. Austin, D.A. Austin, Bacterial Fish Pathogens,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32674-0_10
Chapter 10
Vibrios
Abstract The vibrios have been major problems to aquaculture in marine, coastal
and estuarine water. Some species, e.g. V. anguillarum, have virtually a worldwide
distribution; others have been focused on either colder, e.g. Ali. salmonicida, or
warmer, e.g. Ph. damselae, environments. Because of their role in large scale mortalities, much effort has been expended on developing suitable diagnostic and control measures. Thus, a wide range of modern molecular diagnostic methods have
been developed. Also, some pathogens have been the target of vaccine development,
with commercial products available for some diseases, such as those caused by Ali.
salmonicida, Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida and V. anguillarum.
Keywords Vibriosis • Coldwater disease • Photobacteriosis • Pasteurellosis •
Winter ulcer disease
Vibrios have emerged as the scourge of marine fi sh (Figs. 10.1 and 10.2 ) and shellfi sh. 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 fi sh 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 fi sh pathogen, and we are not entirely satisfi ed with
the evidence. One article has mentioned challenging tilapia with V. parahaemolyticus, but there was insuffi cient 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 milkfi sh 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, confi rmation is desirable before
these taxa become recognised as bona fi de fi sh 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
( 1994a , b ). By phenotypic means, more isolates were associated with disease in gilthead sea bream in Spain (Balebona et al. 1998 ). V. chagassi has been associated
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
B. Austin, D.A. Austin, Bacterial Fish Pathogens,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32674-0_10
Chapter 10
Vibrios
Abstract The vibrios have been major problems to aquaculture in marine, coastal
and estuarine water. Some species, e.g. V. anguillarum, have virtually a worldwide
distribution; others have been focused on either colder, e.g. Ali. salmonicida, or
warmer, e.g. Ph. damselae, environments. Because of their role in large scale mortalities, much effort has been expended on developing suitable diagnostic and control measures. Thus, a wide range of modern molecular diagnostic methods have
been developed. Also, some pathogens have been the target of vaccine development,
with commercial products available for some diseases, such as those caused by Ali.
salmonicida, Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida and V. anguillarum.
Keywords Vibriosis • Coldwater disease • Photobacteriosis • Pasteurellosis •
Winter ulcer disease
Vibrios have emerged as the scourge of marine fi sh (Figs. 10.1 and 10.2 ) and shellfi sh. 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 fi sh 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 fi sh pathogen, and we are not entirely satisfi ed with
the evidence. One article has mentioned challenging tilapia with V. parahaemolyticus, but there was insuffi cient 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 milkfi sh 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, confi rmation is desirable before
these taxa become recognised as bona fi de fi sh 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
( 1994a , b ). By phenotypic means, more isolates were associated with disease in gilthead sea bream in Spain (Balebona et al. 1998 ). V. chagassi has been associated