Antibiotic resistance, virulence and genetic characteristics of Vibrio alginolyticus isolates from aquatic environment in costal mariculture areas in China

Vibrio alginolyticus has been the second most common Vibrio species in the world and mainly grows in the ocean or estuary environment, which can induce epidemics outbreaks under marine organisms, and causing serious economic losses in aquaculture industry. In this study, the genetic populations and evolutionary relationship analysis of V. alginolyticus isolated from different geographical locations in China with typical interannual dif-ferences were exhibited originally genetic diversity. Then the virulence genes prevalence, antibiotic resistance phenotype, and antimicrobial resistance genes risk diversity of V. alginolyticus were analyzed by phenotypic and molecular typing methods. And they were complex correlations among antibiotic phenotypes, resistance and virulence genes under different genotype of V. alginolyticus. The results provide a theoretical foundation for further understanding the genetic and metabolic diversity among V. alginolyticus in China, and lay a theoretical foundation for the transmission risk assessment and regional diagnosis of Vibrio in aquatic animals.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the genetic diversity, virulence gene prevalence, antibiotic resistance phenotype, and antimicrobial resistance gene risk diversity of Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from different geographical locations in China. It found complex correlations among antibiotic phenotypes, resistance, and virulence genes under different genotypes of V. alginolyticus. The results provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the genetic and metabolic diversity of V. alginolyticus in China, and for assessing transmission risk and regional diagnosis of Vibrio in aquatic animals.