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Phenotypic diversity and potential virulence factors of the Shewanella putrefaciens group isolated from freshwater fish

Ewa Paździor
Ewa Paździor
, 
Agnieszka Pękala-Safińska
Agnieszka Pękala-Safińska
 and 
Dariusz Wasyl
Dariusz Wasyl
   | Sep 13, 2019
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Published Online: Sep 13, 2019
Page range: 321 - 332
Received: Mar 07, 2019
Accepted: Jul 30, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2019-0046
Keywords
© 2019 E. Paździor et al. published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction

The Shewanella putrefaciens group are ubiquitous microorganisms recently isolated from different freshwater fish species and causing serious health disorders. The purpose of the study was to characterise isolates of the S. putrefaciens group with special emphasis on elucidating serological diversity and determining putative virulence factors.

Material and Methods

Isolates collected from freshwater fish (n = 44) and reference strains were used. The identification of bacteria was carried out using biochemical kits and 16S rRNA sequencing. Polyclonal antibodies were prepared against the S. putrefaciens group. The bacterium’s susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, its enzymatic properties, and its adhesion ability to fish cell lines were also tested. Finally, selected isolates were used in challenge experiments in common carp and rainbow trout.

Results

Excluding six isolates undeterminable for species, the bacteria were classified to three species: S. putrefaciens, S. xiamenensis, and S. oneidensis, and showed some phenotypic diversity. Fourteen serological variants of the S. putrefaciens group were determined with the newly developed serotyping scheme.

Conclusion

Serodiversity may play an important role in the virulence of particular isolates. Further, S. putrefaciens group members adhere to epithelial cells and produce enzymes which may contribute to their virulence. Challenge tests confirmed the pathogenicity of the S. putrefaciens group for fish.
eISSN:
2450-8608
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Virology, other, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
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