Vibriosis in fish

Abstract

Vvibriosis is a systemic bacterial infection of primarily marine and estuarine fishes, caused by bacteria of the genus Vibrio (Ross et al. 1968, Ghittino et al. 1972); it is a major cause of mortality in maricultur operations. It sometimes also occurs in freshwater species. Vibriosis has been known for centuries; outbreaks were recorded as early as the 1500's along the Italian coast. Terms such as "red pest," "red boil," "red plague," or "saltwater furunculosis" have been applied to vibrio infections, but "vibriosis" is now the specific and standard name of the disease.