A review of the main bacterial fish diseases in mariculture systems

The aim of this review is to compile some dispersed literature published about different aspects of the most threatening bacterial diseases occurring in fish cultured in marine waters worldwide such as vibriosis, winter ulcer, photobacteriosis, furunculosis, flexibacteriosis, winter disease, streptococcosis, lactococcosis, BKD, mycobacteriosis and piscirickettsiosis. Therefore, the geographic distribution of each disease and the main host species affected, together with the biochemical and antigenic diversity existing in the aetiologic agents are described. In addition, the genetic studies that have been performed to determine the possible existence of intraspecific heterogeneity or clonal lineages within each pathogen are included. We review also in brief the classical methods to isolate the microorganisms from their hosts as well as the serological and/or genetic tools for a rapid diagnosis of the diseases. Finally, the current status in the development of vaccination strategies to prevent these bacterial diseases is also addressed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.