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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
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Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 4876

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Geovana Dotta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Bahia – UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil
Interests: aquaculture pathogen
Prof. Dr. Guilherme Tavares

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
Interests: aquaculture
Dr. Fabiana Pilarski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Aquatic Organisms, Sao Paulo State University (Unesp), Aquaculture Center of Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
Interests: aquaculture; fish disease; fish diagnosis; prevention of disease in aquaculture; control and treatment of disease in aquaculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The higher potential for aquatic organism production worldwide is restricted by several obstacles, which are hindering the development of the sector. Among them, the occurrence of outbreaks of infection diseases is a limiting factor in the advancement of different aquaculture branches. Microorganisms (bacteria, virus, and oomycetes) and parasites have been commonly associated with outbreaks in fish, crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, amphibians, and other aquatic animals.

Information about the biology and etiology of pathogens, the epidemiology of diseases affecting aquatic organisms, alternative forms of prevention, and strategies for strengthening the immune system of these organisms are relevant for studies related to the health of organisms with potential for cultivation and commercialization, given the significant increase in these activities around the world. Various aspects of diseases in aquatic organisms need to be discussed, including prophylactic and therapeutic measures and water quality in aquaculture. These aspects must be improved or implemented to mitigate the emergence of pathogenic agents and the occurrence of diseases in aquaculture.   

This Special Issue “Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms” aims to provide a collection of high-quality studies focused on the identification and characterization of diseases, histopathology, host immune responses, molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial peptides, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination, treatment and control strategies, and omics studies in aquatic animals.

Prof. Dr. Geovana Dotta
Prof. Dr. Guilherme Tavares
Dr. Fabiana Pilarski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • conservation and welfare of aquatic animals
  • ecotoxicology of aquatic environments
  • amphibian health and diseases
  • crustacean health and diseases
  • fish health and diseases
  • health and diseases of bivalve mollusks
  • health and diseases of other aquatic animals

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2972 KiB  
Article
Postlarval Shrimp-Associated Microbiota and Underlying Ecological Processes over AHPND Progression
by Zhongjiang Zhou, Jiaqi Lu, Pingping Zhan and Jinbo Xiong
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040720 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Postlarval shrimp frequently face threats from acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Although AHPND affects both postlarval and adult shrimp, abiotic and biotic factors are distinct between life stages, such as rearing water nutrient levels and host life stage-dependent microbiota. The response of postlarvae-associated [...] Read more.
Postlarval shrimp frequently face threats from acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Although AHPND affects both postlarval and adult shrimp, abiotic and biotic factors are distinct between life stages, such as rearing water nutrient levels and host life stage-dependent microbiota. The response of postlarvae-associated microbiota to AHPND, however, remains largely unexplored compared with its effects on juvenile and adult shrimp. To address this knowledge gap, a comparative analysis of postlarvae-associated microbiota and the ecological processes underlying AHPND progression was performed by sequencing the bacterial V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. AHPND infection was validated by high copies of pirAB genes (Toxin 1) in diseased shrimp hepatopancreas. Advanced AHPND significantly altered the structure of the postlarvae-associated microbiota, with significant enrichment of Bacilli and Bdellovibrionia species in healthy larvae compared with matched AHPND-infected cohorts, although gut microbiota recovery was observed at the late disease stage, corresponding with the cessation of postlarval mortality. AHPND infection explained 11.0% (p < 0.001) of the variance in community structures, whereas postlarvae days post hatching also significantly influenced bacterial communities (7.1% variance, p < 0.001). AHPND-infected shrimp exhibited reduced homogeneous selection and increased dispersal limitation and drift governing their microbiota. These changes were primarily driven by specific microbial lineages, including enriched Bin36 Rhodobacteraceae and Bin11 Flavobacteriaceae, and suppressed Bin63 Vibrio and Bin9 Bacillus in AHPND-infected shrimp. After excluding shrimp age effect, 13 AHPND-discriminatory taxa were identified, accurately distinguishing infected shrimp from healthy individuals with 100% precision. Furthermore, AHPND outbreak weakened the network complexity and stability, which was driven by the suppressed keystone taxa that were positively associated with network robustness. Collectively, our findings deepen the understanding of the inextricable interplay between postlarval shrimp health, microbiota dynamics, and survival, as well as the underlying ecological mechanisms over AHPND progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms)
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15 pages, 2302 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of a Florfenicol Formulation for Treating Streptococcosis and Francisellosis in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A Study of Safety, Withdrawal Period and Efficacy
by Natália Amoroso Ferrari, Raffaella Menegheti Mainardi, Mayza Brandão da Silva, Gabriel Diogo Guimarães, Marcos Letaif Gaeta, Francisco Eduardo Pereira Rocha, Tainara Oliveira da Silva, Alene Santos Souza, Bruna Cordeiro Baptista, João Anderson Keiti Rocha, Erika Fernandes Lopes Maturana, Daniela Dib Gonçalves, Nelson Maurício Lopera Barrero, Giovana Wingeter Di Santis and Ulisses de Pádua Pereira
Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030558 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 597
Abstract
This study evaluates the efficacy of a new florfenicol-based drug, both in vitro and in vivo, in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against pathogens commonly found in fish farming and its withdrawal period. The drug’s efficacy was tested using prophylactic, metaphylactic, and [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the efficacy of a new florfenicol-based drug, both in vitro and in vivo, in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) against pathogens commonly found in fish farming and its withdrawal period. The drug’s efficacy was tested using prophylactic, metaphylactic, and therapeutic approaches against Streptococcus agalactiae (serotypes Ib and III) and Francisella orientalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration of florfenicol was 4, 5, and 128 μg/mL for the different pathogens. Fish mortality was lower in the prophylactic treatment compared to the metaphylactic and therapeutic treatments for S. agalactiae. No difference in mortality was observed for F. orientalis across treatments. Mild to moderate lesions suggestive of intoxication were observed, mainly in the liver of fish treated with overdoses or exposed to low temperatures. Florfenicol reduced mortality rates, especially with early treatment (metaphylactic), in fish experimentally challenged with the pathogens. Moreover, prophylactic antimicrobial use is not recommended, as it promotes the selection of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Additionally, the residual concentration of the drug in muscle tissue lasted for a shorter period than that recommended by the manufacturer, and at lower concentrations than required by national and international legislation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms)
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13 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Resistance in Lactococcus spp. Isolated from Native Brazilian Fish Species: A Growing Challenge for Aquaculture
by Angélica Emanuely Costa do Rosário, Angelo Carlo Chaparro Barbanti, Helena Caldeira Matos, Cynthia Rafaela Monteiro da Silva Maia, Júlia Miranda Trindade, Luiz Fagner Ferreira Nogueira, Fabiana Pilarski, Silvia Umeda Gallani, Carlos Augusto Gomes Leal, Henrique César Pereira Figueiredo and Guilherme Campos Tavares
Microorganisms 2024, 12(11), 2327; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112327 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Lactococcus spp. has emerged as a pathogen that is affecting global aquaculture, with L. garvieae, L. petauri, and L. formosensis causing piscine lactococcosis. While antimicrobials are commonly used to treat diseases in aquaculture, reports of antimicrobial resistance in fish isolates are [...] Read more.
Lactococcus spp. has emerged as a pathogen that is affecting global aquaculture, with L. garvieae, L. petauri, and L. formosensis causing piscine lactococcosis. While antimicrobials are commonly used to treat diseases in aquaculture, reports of antimicrobial resistance in fish isolates are increasing. However, little is known about the susceptibility patterns of Lactococcus spp. strains isolated from native fish species in Brazil. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of these strains and establish a provisional epidemiological cutoff value for L. garvieae using the normalized resistance interpretation approach. A total of 47 isolates were tested: 17 L. garvieae, 24 L. petauri, and 6 L. formosensis. The isolates were classified as wild-type (WT) or non-wild-type (NWT) based on inhibition zone diameters. Isolates classified as NWT for three or more antimicrobial classes were considered multidrug-resistant, and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was calculated. The results revealed heterogeneity in antimicrobial resistance profiles, with higher resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and norfloxacin. Resistance to other antimicrobials, including florfenicol and oxytetracycline (approved for use in Brazil), varied according to the bacterial species. Lactococcus petauri (87.5%) and L. formosensis (66.7%) showed the highest multidrug resistance, compared to L. garvieae (11.7%), along with higher MAR index values. These findings suggest that multidrug-resistant strains could pose future challenges in the production of native species, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and responsible use of antimicrobials in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms)
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17 pages, 5038 KiB  
Article
Potentially Pathogenic Vibrio spp. in Algal Wrack Accumulations on Baltic Sea Sandy Beaches
by Marija Kataržytė, Greta Gyraitė, Greta Kalvaitienė, Diana Vaičiūtė, Otilija Budrytė and Martynas Bučas
Microorganisms 2024, 12(10), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12102101 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1237
Abstract
The Vibrio bacteria known to cause infections to humans and wildlife have been largely overlooked in coastal environments affected by beach wrack accumulations from seaweed or seagrasses. This study presents findings on the presence and distribution of potentially pathogenic Vibrio species on coastal [...] Read more.
The Vibrio bacteria known to cause infections to humans and wildlife have been largely overlooked in coastal environments affected by beach wrack accumulations from seaweed or seagrasses. This study presents findings on the presence and distribution of potentially pathogenic Vibrio species on coastal beaches that are used for recreation and are affected by red-algae-dominated wrack. Using species-specific primers and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we identified V. vulnificus, V. cholerae (non-toxigenic), and V. alginolyticus, along with 14 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the Vibrio genus in such an environment. V. vulnificus and V. cholerae were most frequently found in water at wrack accumulation sites and within the wrack itself compared to sites without wrack. Several OTUs were exclusive to wrack accumulation sites. For the abundance and presence of V. vulnificus and the presence of V. cholerae, the most important factors in the water were the proportion of V. fucoides in the wrack, chl-a, and CDOM. Specific Vibrio OTUs correlated with salinity, water temperature, cryptophyte, and blue-green algae concentrations. To better understand the role of wrack accumulations in Vibrio abundance and community composition, future research should include different degradation stages of wrack, evaluate the link with nutrient release, and investigate microbial food-web interactions within such ecosystems, focusing on potentially pathogenic Vibrio species that could be harmful both for humans and wildlife. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms)
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11 pages, 1669 KiB  
Brief Report
Microbothriid (Monogenean) Infection and Treatment in Captive Blacktip Reef Shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus)
by Hee Jun Ko, Sung Bin Lee, Kee Hoon Kim, So Young Jeon, Ji Yun Jung, Yun Mi Choi and Se Chang Park
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2558; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122558 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 768
Abstract
Unlike other microbothriid monogenean infections in elasmobranchs, limited information is available on the biology and treatment of Dermophthirius melanopteri. As parasitic infection with D. melanopteri was found in 21 juvenile blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) at the Lotteworld aquarium in [...] Read more.
Unlike other microbothriid monogenean infections in elasmobranchs, limited information is available on the biology and treatment of Dermophthirius melanopteri. As parasitic infection with D. melanopteri was found in 21 juvenile blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) at the Lotteworld aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, we aimed to investigate the anatomical features and treatment protocols for D. melanopteri in this study. The parasites were sampled and fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, and examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. The treatments included short-term praziquantel baths, freshwater immersion, and long-term trichlorfon baths. Manual removal of parasites was also attempted. Examination and manual removal revealed that, similar to other microbothriids, D. melanopteri attaches to the placoid scale using opisthaptoral secretion in the posterior region. The effectiveness of the treatments varied, with trichlorfon proving the most effective and safe option for complete parasite eradication. Praziquantel facilitated parasite removal by weakening their attachment, suggesting the potential for higher doses and prolonged exposure times for enhanced antiparasitic effects. To our knowledge, this is the first study providing the microscopic details of D. melanopteri infection and its treatment outcomes in captive blacktip reef sharks, thereby providing valuable insights for future research and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Diseases of Aquatic Organisms)
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