Comparative genomics of Aeromonas veronii: Identification of a pathotype impacting aquaculture globally

Aeromonas veronii is a gram-negative species abundant in aquatic environments that causes disease in humans as well as terrestrial and aquatic animals. In the current study, 41 publicly available A. veronii genomes were compared to investigate distribution of putative virulence genes, global dissemination of pathotypes, and potential mechanisms of virulence. The complete genome of A. veronii strain ML09-123 from an outbreak of motile aeromonas septicemia in farm-raised catfish in the southeastern United States was included. Dissemination of A. veronii strain types was discovered in dispersed geographical locations. Isolate ML09-123 is highly similar to Chinese isolate TH0426, suggesting the two strains have a common origin and may represent a pathotype impacting aquaculture in both countries. Virulence of strain ML09-123 in catfish in a dose-dependent manner was confirmed experimentally. Subsystem category disposition showed the majority of genomes exhibit similar distribution of genomic elements. The type I secretion system (T1SS), type II secretion system (T2SS), type 4 pilus (T4P), and flagellum core elements are conserved in all A. veronii genomes, whereas the type III secretion system (T3SS), type V secretion system (T5SS), type VI secretion system (T6SS), and tight adherence (TAD) system demonstrate variable dispersal. Distribution of mobile elements is dependent on host and geographic origin, suggesting this species has undergone considerable genetic exchange. The data presented here lends insight into the genomic variation of A. veronii and identifies a pathotype impacting aquaculture globally.