VIBRIO PENAEICIDA SP-NOV, A PATHOGEN OF KURUMA PRAWNS (PENAEUS-JAPONICUS)

Six similar strains which were isolated as pathogens of cultured kurum a prawns (Penaeus japonicus) in Japan had characteristics of the genus Vibrio. These organisms were distinguished from previously described Vibrio species by their positive results in tests for gelatinase and l ipase activities and their negative reactions in tests for arginine di hydrolase and lysine and ornithine decarboxylase activities, growth in the presence of 6% NaCl and at 35 degrees C, acid production from suc rose, utilization of D-glucuronate and propionate, and luminescence. T he G+C contents of the DNAs of these organisms were 46.2 to 47.0 mol%, The levels of DNA relatedness among these six strains were 87 to 99% (as determined by the membrane filter method), while the levels of DNA relatedness between prawn pathogen strain KH-1(T) (T type strain) and members of 28 previously described Vibrio species were less than 18%, The name Vibrio penaeicida sp, nov, is proposed for the prawn-pathoge nic strains, The type strain is strain KH-1 (= IFO 15640 = JCM 9123).