Investigation of Aliarcobacter spp. and Campylobacter spp. in uterine contents of cows: Antibacterial susceptibility and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates.

The study aimed to isolate and identify Aliarcobacter spp. and Campylobacter spp. from the uterine contents of cows and to determine the susceptibilities of the isolates to various antibiotics. For this purpose, a total of 63 cows (with repeat breeder, metritis, and healthy) uterine contents were collected from a slaughterhouse. Pre-enrichment and membrane filtration methods were used to isolate Aliarcobacter and Campylobacter spp., and phenotypic and molecular methods were used to identify the isolates. Antibacterial susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by the disc diffusion method. A total of 11 (17.46 %, 11/63) samples were found positive for both genera, and 12 isolates were obtained from these samples. Out of 9 Campylobacter isolates, 5, 3, and 1 were identified as C. jejuni, C. sputorum, and C. hyointestinalis, respectively. Also, two and one of Aliarcobacter spp. isolates were identified as Aliarcobacter sp. and A. butzleri, respectively. All isolates of both genera were found to be sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ampicillin, erythromycin, and enrofloxacin and resistant to trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole. This is the first study that reported on the isolation of C. hyointestinalis from cattle uterine contents. It was concluded that Campylobacter and Aliarcobacter species should be considered among the most important etiological agents in uterine infections that cause infertility in cows. The isolation of Aliarcobacter and Campylobacter spp. from healthy cow uteri within the scope of this study suggests the possibility that these agents could colonize the uterus, similar to the colonization observed in the intestine and gallbladder.

Flavobacterium acetivorans sp. nov. and Flavobacterium galactosidilyticum sp. nov., psychrotolerant flavobacteria isolated from cultivated fish.

Two yellow-coloured strains, F-29T and F-340T, were isolated from fish farms in Antalya and Mugla in 2015 and 2017 during surveillance studies. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that both strains belong to the genus Flavobacterium. A polyphasic approach involving a comprehensive genome analysis was employed to ascertain the taxonomic provenance of the strains. The overall genome-relatedness indices of digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) between the strains and the other members of the genus Flavobacterium were found to be well below the established thresholds of 70 and 95 %, respectively. The whole-genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain F-29T is closely related to Flavobacterium granuli (dDDH 39.3 % and ANI 89.4 %), while strain F-340T has a close relationship with the type strain of Flavobacterium pygoscelis (dDDH 25.6 % and ANI 81.5 %). Both strains were psychrotolerant with an optimum growth temperature of 25 °C. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strains were typical of the genus Flavobacterium. Both strains had phosphatidylethanolamine, aminolipids and unidentified lipids in their polar lipid profile and MK-6 as the isoprenoid quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The genome size of the strains was 3.5 Mb, while G+C contents were 35.3 mol% for strain F-29T and 33.4 mol% for strain F-340T. Overall, the characterizations confirmed that both strains are representatives of two novel species within the genus Flavobacterium, for which the names Flavobacterium acetivorans sp. nov. and Flavobacterium galactosidilyticum sp. nov. are proposed, with F-29T (JCM 34193T=KCTC 82253T) and F-340T (JCM 34203T=KCTC 82263T) as the type strains, respectively.

Phylogenomic characterization of Flavobacterium psychrophilum isolates retrieved from Turkish rainbow trout farms.

Flavobacterium psychrophilum, a devastating fish pathogen, is responsible for bacterial cold-water disease (BCWD), also known as rainbow trout fry syndrome. F. psychrophilum is the main causative agent of outbreaks in rainbow trout farms, especially at early live stages. In the present study, we aimed to characterize F. psychrophilum Turkish isolates. Eighteen isolates were retrieved from BCWD outbreaks between 2014 and 2021. In vitro phenotypic characterization showed gelatin and casein hydrolysis capacities and in vitro adhesion for all isolates, whereas elastinolytic activity was present for 16 of 18 isolates. We used complete genome sequencing to infer MLST-type, serotype and phylogenetic reconstruction. Strikingly, one strain isolated from Coruh trout (FP-369) belongs to ST393, a previously undescribed ST, and is phylogenetically distant from the other isolates. However, all strains retrieved from rainbow trout belong to the well-characterized clonal complex CC-ST10, 12 of 17 were tightly connected in a single cluster. Several serotypes (Types -1, -2 and -3) were represented among isolates, but no correlation was observed with geographic origins. This analysis suggests a regional dissemination of an epidemic, disease-producing bacterial population. This study provides a basis for epidemiological surveillance of isolates circulating in Turkey and phenotypic data for future molecular studies of virulence traits of this important fish pathogen.

A Review of the Industrial Importance, Common Bacterial Diseases, and Zoonotic Risks of Freshwater Aquarium Fish.

Background: The ever-increasing popularity of home aquariums, most often involving freshwater varieties, has exploded in recent years partially due to the Coronavirus pandemic and related to stay-at-home public health precautions for social distancing. With this ever-increasing popularity of aquariums as a hobby, and whether this involves freshwater or marine fish species, a number of important economic, ecological, and public health issues arise for both fish and hobbyists alike. Materials and Methods: This review highlights the history and genesis of aquariums as both a hobby and an important economic factor (industrial, commercial) for many countries on a global basis. Types of aquarium fish are described, and culture conditions leading to homeostasis in aquatic environments are detailed. When these conditions are not met and aquatic systems are out of balance, the disease can result due to stressed fish. Results: Major bacterial diseases associated with freshwater aquarium fish are reviewed, as are potential human infections related to the care and maintenance of home aquaria. Conclusion: Besides, scientific information was also combined with the false facts of hobbyists who tried to identify and treat diseases during an outbreak in the aquarium. Finally, unresolved issues and important misconceptions regarding the field are discussed.

Comprehensive genome analysis of five novel flavobacteria: Flavobacterium piscisymbiosum sp. nov., Flavobacterium pisciphilum sp. nov., Flavobacterium flavipigmentatum sp. nov., Flavobacterium lipolyticum sp. nov. and Flavobacterium cupriresistens sp. nov.

Eight isolates were obtained through a study on culture-dependent bacteria from fish farms and identified as members of the genus Flavobacterium based on pairwise analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The highest pairwise identity values were calculated as 98.8 % for strain F-30 T and Flavobacterium bizetiae, 99.0 % for strain F-65 T and Flavobacterium branchiarum, 98.7 % for strain F-126 T and Flavobacterium tructae, 98.2 % for strain F-323 T and Flavobacterium cupreum while 99.7 % identity level was detected for strain F-70 T and Flavobacterium geliluteum. In addition, strains F-33, Fl-77, and F-70 T shared 100 % identical 16S rRNA genes, while strains F-323 T and Fl-318 showed 99.9 % identity. A polyphasic approach including comparative analysis of whole-genome data was employed to ascertain the taxonomic provenance of the strains. In addition to the morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the strains, the overall genome-relatedness indices of dDDH and ANI below the established thresholds confirmed the classification of the strains as five novel species within the genus Flavobacterium. The comprehensive genome analyses of the strains were also conducted to determine the biosynthetic gene clusters, virulence features and ecological distribution patterns. Based on the polyphasic characterisations, including comparative genome analyses, it is concluded that strains F-30 T, F-65 T, F-70 T, F126T and F-323 T represent five novel species within the genus Flavobacterium for which Flavobacterium piscisymbiosum sp. nov. F-30 T (=JCM 34194 T = KCTC 82254 T), Flavobacterium pisciphilum sp. nov. F-65 T (=JCM 34197 T = KCTC 82257 T), Flavobacterium flavipigmentatum sp. nov. F-70 T (Fl-33 = Fl-77 = JCM 34198 T = KCTC 82258 T), Flavobacterium lipolyticum sp. nov. F-126 T (JCM 34199 T = KCTC 82259 T) and Flavobacterium cupriresistens sp. nov. F-323 T (Fl-318 = JCM 34200 T = KCTC 82260 T), are proposed.