Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during disease outbreaks

Abstract

<em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em> was isolated from the internal organs of diseased sea bass (<em>Dicentrarchus labrax</em>) cultured in a marine cage farm and an inshore fish farm in the summer 2010. All strains isolated from diseased sea bass were tested for virulence by intraperitoneal injection. The isolates (<em>n</em> = 6) were pathogenic for sea bass. Only bacterial strains showing haemolytic activity were virulent. LD50 values ranged from 3.52 × 104 to 2.29 × 106 cfu fish−1. In this study, we report the characterization and the virulence of <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> strains isolated from sea bass originating from two different fish farms (marine cage farm and inshore fish farm in Tunisia).