Marine fish parasite, Lernanthropus kroyeri (Copepoda) is a repository of Vibrio anguillarum as evidenced by Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification method

Abstract

Fish parasites act as a vector of other pathogenic diseases such as bacteria and virus in fish. Although it has been long known that fish parasites can act as a vector for bacterial pathogens, their role in the transmission of specific bacterial pathogens via particular parasites in the off-host stage has been neglected. The aim of the present study was to disclose that if the copepod parasite, Lernanthropus kroyeri in the off-host stage, can store up the aquatic bacterial pathogens: Aeromonas hydrophila, Photobacterium damsela subsp. piscicida, Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum, V. harveyi, V. vulnificus, and V. alginolyticus. Our results using the Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) method demonstrates that the bacteria, V. anguillarum is internally present in the off-host copepod parasites, L. kroyeri. It was also found that the parasite, L. kroyeri could survive in the off-host stage for a given time with its potential of vectoring ability in terms of transmission of the bacterium to the fish. This study demonstrates evidence that the copepod parasite in the off-host stage on the gills of sea bass is a reservoir of pathogen bacteria, Vibrio anguillarum.

Aeromonas salmonicida, causative agent of salmonid furunculosis, isolated from the freshwater parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis

“…Additionally, the copepod Caligus rogercresseyi is a vector for infectious salmon anaemia virus (Labra et al., 2020; Oelckers et al., 2014), and is suspected to be a reservoir for multiple other pathogens (Gonclaves et al., 2020). Lernanthropus kroyeri , another copepod, is a repository of the bacterium Vibrio anguillarum and could potentially act as a vector for this pathogen (Yildiz & Otgucuoglue, 2021).…”

“…Lernanthropus kroyeri, another copepod, is a repository of the bacterium Vibrio anguillarum and could potentially act as a vector for this pathogen (Yildiz & Otgucuoglue, 2021).…”

Parasitic copepod (Lernanthropus kroyeri) on caged sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): An estimation of abundance and internal infestation pressure

“…Alongside the severe damage to the gills, L. kroyeri may cause the increase in secondary infections in relation to acting as a vector for other microbial pathogens (Kotob et al, 2016;Misganaw & Getu, 2016). It has been shown that L. kroyeri in sea bass can act as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio anguillarum (Yavuzcan & Otgucuoglu, 2021).…”