Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Antigenic Characterisation of Tenacibaculum maritimum Isolates from Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.) Farmed on the Aegean Sea Coasts of Turkey

Yardimci RE *,Gülsen Timur

Tenacibaculosis, caused by Tenacibaculum maritimum, can result in severe mortalities of several marine fish species and thus represents a major challenge in Mediterranean aquaculture. Serological knowledge about this pathogen is required to develop effective preventive measures (vaccination). For this purpose, nineteen T. maritimum isolates, recovered between 2008 and 2010 from diseased European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.) farmed at the Aegean Sea Coasts of Turkey, were characterised. All isolates produced flat, irregular, pale yellow colonies after incubation at 22-24°C for 48 hours, displayed pleomorphism with gliding motility with a size ranging between 4-20 × 0,5 μm and were otherwise biochemically identical to the T. maritimum NCIMB 2154T reference strain. The specific fluorescence appearance of the T. maritimum isolates were revealed by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Technique (IFAT) which was also used to detect the bacterium in tissue samples. The presence of antibodies in the blood sera of the diseased fish against this pathogen was detected by using agglutination and Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Dot-Blot testing identified all T. maritimum isolates as serotype O1. To our knowledge, this is the first report on O1 serotype T. maritimum isolates from sea bass farmed in Turkey