Vibrio owensii

  • Fish and coral pathogen

Overview

Vibrio owensii is a Gram-negative marine bacterium that has emerged as a significant pathogen in aquaculture and marine environments worldwide. This versatile organism affects a diverse range of hosts including corals, shrimp, fish, and other marine invertebrates. Originally identified as a cause of Montipora white syndrome in Hawaiian corals, V. owensii has since been recognized as a major threat to shrimp aquaculture and is increasingly associated with antibiotic resistance, making it a pathogen of considerable concern for marine ecosystems and aquaculture operations.

Affected species (hosts)

Primary Marine Hosts:

  • Corals (Montipora species) – causes white syndrome in Hawaiian reefs
  • Shrimp (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis, Penaeus vannamei) – causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)
  • Manila clams (Venerupis philippinarum)
  • Sea urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) – associated with red spotting disease

Secondary Aquaculture Hosts:

  • Seabass in marine aquaculture systems
  • Abalone in farming operations
  • Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) – used in research models
  • Various reef-associated invertebrates

Environmental Reservoirs:

  • Coral reef seawater communities
  • Aquaculture facility biofilms and water systems
  • Red Sea coral-associated microbiomes

Antibiotic Resistance and Treatment Challenges

Multi-Drug Resistance. V. owensii strains have been identified as multi-drug resistant pathogens in Indonesian marine aquaculture, showing resistance to multiple commonly used antibiotics. This resistance pattern makes treatment particularly challenging and highlights the importance of prevention strategies.

Virulence Factor Expression: The bacterium carries multiple virulence genes including pirAB genes that cause acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease in shrimp. These factors contribute to high mortality rates and rapid disease progression in affected aquaculture operations.

Biofilm Formation: V. owensii is commonly found in aquaculture biofilms, which can serve as reservoirs for infection and provide protection from antimicrobial treatments. This biofilm-associated lifestyle complicates eradication efforts.

Temperature Sensitivity: Unlike some other Vibrio species, V. owensii abundance appears negatively correlated with temperature in some environments, suggesting that cooler water conditions may favor its proliferation in certain geographic regions.

Management and Prevention Strategies

Prevention. Implement strict biosecurity in aquaculture operations, with regular monitoring of water quality and bacterial loads. Quarantine new stock and maintain optimal environmental conditions to reduce stress-induced susceptibility.

Alternative Treatment Approaches. Given widespread antibiotic resistance, explore quorum quenching strategies, photodynamic therapy, and biological control methods. Some studies suggest nitrofurantoin or sulfamethoxazole may retain effectiveness against certain strains.

Environmental Management: Monitor water temperature and quality parameters, as environmental stress can trigger V. owensii outbreaks. Maintain proper biofilm management in aquaculture systems to reduce bacterial reservoirs.

Early Detection: Use molecular diagnostic methods for rapid identification and distinguish V. owensii from other Vibrio species. Regular monitoring during high-risk periods is crucial for early intervention.

Antibiotic Considerations: Due to antibiotic resistance concerns and potential environmental impacts, antibiotic use should be carefully considered and based on sensitivity testing when possible.

V. owensii in reef tanks

Prevalence

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Looking at how common this pathogen is in other tanks can help you gauge whether finding it in your tank is expected or unusual.

Abundance Distribution

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Comparing the levels of this pathogen in your tank with those found in other tanks provides a context for interpreting your test results.

References

Ushijima, B., et al. (2012). Vibrio owensii Induces the Tissue Loss Disease Montipora White Syndrome in the Hawaiian Reef Coral Montipora capitata. PLoS ONE, 7(10), e46717. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046717

Torres, M., et al. (2018). AHL-lactonase expression in three marine emerging pathogenic Vibrio spp. reduces virulence and mortality in brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum). PLoS ONE, 13(4), e0195176. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195176

Liu, L., et al. (2018). A Vibrio owensii strain as the causative agent of AHPND in cultured shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 153, 156-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2018.02.005

Isnansetyo, A., et al. (2022). Identification and antibiotic-resistant properties of Vibrio owensii and V. alginolyticus isolated from the Spermonde Islands, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(11), 6154-6162. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d231154

Dai, L., et al. (2022). Pathogenicity and transcriptome analysis of a strain of Vibrio owensii in Fenneropenaeus merguiensis. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 130, 150-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2022.09.008

Wang, Z., et al. (2023). Genomic characterization and comparative genomic analysis of pathogenic Vibrio isolated from aquaculture-grown white-leg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) in Guangdong and Jiangsu, China. Aquaculture, 576, 739851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740302

Raina, J., et al. (2016). Isolation of an antimicrobial compound produced by bacteria associated with reef-building corals. PeerJ, 4, e2275. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2275

Lin, L., & Tsai, Y. (2022). Isolation and characterization of a Vibrio owensii phage phi50-12. Scientific Reports, 12, 16621. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-20831-2

Mougin, J., et al. (2021). Abundance and spatial patterns over time of Vibrionaceae and Vibrio harveyi in water and biofilm from a seabass aquaculture facility. Aquaculture, 542, 736862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736862

Amin, A., et al. (2016). The First Temporal and Spatial Assessment of Vibrio Diversity of the Surrounding Seawater of Coral Reefs in Ishigaki, Japan. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7, 1185. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01185

Ben Natan, M., et al. (2024). Antibiotic Resistance in Vibrio Bacteria Associated with Red Spotting Disease in Sea Urchin Tripneustes gratilla (Echinodermata). Microorganisms, 12(12), 2460. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122460

Malara, D., et al. (2017). Sustainable water treatment in aquaculture – photolysis and photodynamic therapy for the inactivation of Vibrio species. Aquaculture Research, 48(6), 2954-2962. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13128