Molecular epidemiology and development of vaccines against emerging pathogens for Brazilian fish farming: Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Weissella ceti

Abstract

Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Weissella ceti have been considered emergent pathogens for Brazilian Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) farming, respectively. Both diseases cause great economic losses in fish farms. Disease prevention by vaccination is a fundamental method for pathogen control in aquaculture. The aims of this study were to evaluate the genetic diversity of S. dysgalactiae and W. ceti strains isolated from distinct geographic origins and to develop efficient vaccines against these pathogens. Different methods (REP-PCR, ERIC-PCR and PFGE) were used for the genetically characterization of strains of both bacteria, and sodA gene sequencing was also tested for genotyping of S. dysgalactiae isolates. Aqueous-based whole cell killed bacterin and oil-adjuvanted vaccine were tested. The PFGE was the best genotyping method for S. dysgalactiae and detected three different genetic profiles among the evaluated strains. The genetic variability of patterns was clearly associated with the geographic origin of isolates. According to the methods used, Brazilian W. ceti isolates was found to be highly homogeneous with a clonal population. Vaccines formulated with whole cell bacterin emulsified in oil adjuvant provided significant protection against S. dysgalactiae (RPS = 92,5) and W. ceti (RPS = 92,0) infections in Nile tilapia and rainbow trout, respectively. The present results provide scientific information for development of adequate methods to control two emerging infectious diseases that threaten Brazilian fish farming industry.