Pathogenic Potential of Edwardsiella tarda Strains Isolated from Turbot

In this study, pathogenicity of Edwardsiella tarda isolates from turbot Scophthalmus maximus as well as other strains from different hosts were tested against turbot, sole Solea senegalensis and sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. In addition, the influence of challenge route and temperature in the pathogenic potential of E. tarda strains from turbot were also examined. The results obtained showed that E. tarda did not have host specificity in virulence and that the turbot isolates were highly virulent regardless of the inoculation route and temperature. Moreover, inoculation experiments performed in mice suggest that these isolates are virulent for mammals. All these findings suggest that this emergent turbot pathogen constitutes an important risk factor for the marine aquaculture.