Molecular Characterization of Vibrio Harveyi and Vibrio alginolyticus with the Impact of Stressful Environment on Some Naturally Infected Marine Fish

Abstract

Cultured seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and seabream (Sparus aurata L.) are marine species of high economic important especially in Mediterranean aquaculture. Among bacterial diseases of marine cultured and wild fish, vibriosis caused by Vibrio species is one of the most prevalent diseases. In the present work, we report the isolation and identification of the V. harveyi and V. alginolyticus, based on biochemical and molecular characterization, from cultured seabass and seabream native to private fish farms at Mathalath-El Diba region, Domitte City at Domitte Governorate, Egypt during summer season. The most prominent clinical signs of diseased fish were hemorrhagic ulceration on the dorsal musculature and caudal peduncle area as well as sever protrusion of the eye outside the orbital cavity. Histological examination of seabass revealed haemorrhage on the liver and nodular formation on different organs especially in kidney and liver. While, diseased seabream showed marbling appearance of gill with nodular formation and necrotic area distributed over the liver. Physico-chemical characteristics of water samples collected parallel to fish samples indicated that pH and organic matter of the water sample was within the permissible limits. However, the unionized ammonia, nitrate, and hydrogen sulphate concentrations were higher than the acceptable limits. Moreover, the heavy metals (copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and iron) contained of water samples were higher than permissible limits. In regards to the haematological parameters associated with diseased and apparently healthy seabream and seabass. The total protein, albumin, and globulin were lower in diseased seabass and seabream than apparently healthy fish. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activity was lower in the diseased fish than apparently healthy seabass and seabream. Levels of aspartate amino-transferase (S.AST) and alanine amino transferase (S.ALT) in plasma of diseased seabass and seabream were higher than apparent healthy seabass and seabream. Altogether, higher level of heavy metal concentrations in water samples than the permissible limits act as chemical stressors that help in increase the prevalence of V. harveyi and V. alginolyticus species in seabass and seabream.