Ultrastructural Aspects of Yersinia ruckeri Cells after Treatment with Non-thermal Plasma-activated Water

Andrei Cristian Lupu,Laura Ursu,Mihai Mares,Raluca Mindru,Andra-Cristina Bostanaru,Constantin Roman,Liviu Dan Miron

doi:10.37358/rc.19.1.6864

Abstract

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric red mouth disease (ERM, yersiniosis), one of the most important diseases that affects particularly farmed salmonids species. Numerous articles have demonstrated that Y. ruckeri can cause both epizootics and zoonosis. Y. ruckeri shows the ability to survive outside the host in nutrient-limiting environments for long periods due to biofilms forming capacity with adherence to solid supports but also for the adherence to the host tissues. Considering these aspects, the control of Y. ruckeri can be a problem, because of its resistance. Recently, non-thermal plasma activated water (PAW) proved to be active against Gram-negative bacteria and this fact could be also useful in Y. ruckeri control. The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the antimicrobial efficacy of PAW against Y. ruckeri and to explore the ultrastructural changes in these bacteria. Ultrastructural changes in Y. ruckeri cells, probably related to the action of PAW, included modifications in the shape and texture of the outer membrane. These changes in the bacterial membrane have been linked with the inactivation of bacteria by PAW exposure.

Highlights

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric red mouth disease (ERM, yersiniosis), one of the most important diseases that affects farmed salmonids species
In order to assess the impact of plasma activated water (PAW) interaction with bacterial cell wall Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) were used
Surface neutralizations of the cell membrane are important for the antimicrobial activity of PAW, which properly acts on the bacterial surface

Summary

Introduction

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric red mouth disease (ERM, yersiniosis), one of the most important diseases that affects farmed salmonids species. Non-thermal plasma activated water (PAW) proved to be active against Gram-negative bacteria and this fact could be useful in Y. ruckeri control. The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the antimicrobial efficacy of PAW against Y. ruckeri and to explore the ultrastructural changes in these bacteria. Yersinia ruckeri is a Gram negative, rod shaped bacterium that is able to affect different fish species including carp, trout, catfish, sturgeon, turbot and perch [1]. In salmonids, this bacterium is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM) for both fresh and marine waters [2]. During this study we have verified the antimicrobial efficacy of the plasma-activated water (PAW) against the bacterium Y. ruckeri

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