Elsevier

Water Research

Volume 211, 1 March 2022, 117942
Water Research

The increased prevalence of Vibrio species and the first reporting of Vibrio jasicida and Vibrio rotiferianus at UK shellfish sites

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117942Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • SSTs in UK shellfish harvesting waters are 18–22 °C for 8 consecutive weeks.

  • Increasing SSTs do not necessarily drive growth of V. parahaemolyticus in shellfish.

  • Whole genome sequencing identifies V. rotiferianus and V. jasicida in shellfish.

  • V. jascinda and V. rotiferianus show pathogenicity in insect infection model.

Abstract

Warming sea-surface temperature has led to an increase in the prevalence of Vibrio species in marine environments. This can be observed particularly in temperate regions where conditions for their growth has become more favourable. The increased prevalence of pathogenic Vibrio species has resulted in a worldwide surge of Vibriosis infections in human and aquatic animals. This study uses sea-surface temperature data around the English and Welsh coastlines to identify locations where conditions for the presence and growth of Vibrio species is favourable. Shellfish samples collected from three locations that were experiencing an increase in sea-surface temperature were found to be positive for the presence of Vibrio species. We identified important aquaculture pathogens Vibrio rotiferianus and Vibrio jasicida from these sites that have not been reported in UK waters. We also isolated human pathogenic Vibrio species including V. parahaemolyticus from these sites. This paper reports the first isolation of V. rotiferianus and V. jasicida from UK shellfish and highlights a growing diversity of Vibrio species inhabiting British waters.

Keywords

Vibrio species
Vibrio jasicida
Vibrio rotiferianus
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Shellfish
Sea-surface temperature

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