First isolation and characterization of a new species of Vibrio from diseased flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus Temminck et Schlegel)

Appropriate pathogenic bacteria were isolated from diseased (or dead) flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus L) occurring in a mariculture farms of Qinhuangdao, which all diseased fishes expressed bacterial septicaemia. The phenotypic information of the 12 pure cultures was studied extensively, including morphological characteristics, colony characteristics in different media, physiological and biochemi- cal characteristics, and the mole fraction G+C ratio of the DNA for representative strain. The results show that the isolates belong to a new species of Vibrio, and are designated as Vibrio qinhuangdaora sp.nov. by the area from which the diseased flounders are collected (Qinhuangdao) based on its biological properties following Rules of International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria. At the same time, studies on the serum homology of isolates, and pathogenicity of isolates were conducted by experimental infection. The results show that all the isolates are of serologic similarity, and the isolates have strong pathogenicity to flounder. The studies can extensively reflect the main biological properties of this new species of Vibrio.