Article

Aeromonas dhakensis: A Zoonotic Bacterium of Increasing Importance in Aquaculture

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Citation

Bartie KL & Desbois AP (2024) Aeromonas dhakensis: A Zoonotic Bacterium of Increasing Importance in Aquaculture. Pathogens, 13 (6), p. 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060465

Abstract
Aeromonas dhakensis is increasingly recognised to be an important pathogen responsible for disease losses in warm-water aquaculture and, similar to several other Aeromonas species, it can infect humans. Knowledge of A. dhakensis is accumulating, but this species remains relatively under-investigated compared to its close relative, Aeromonas hydrophila. The significance of A. dhakensis may have been overlooked in disease events of aquatic animals due to issues with reliable identification. Critical to appreciating the importance of this pathogen is the application of dependable molecular tools that enable accurate identification and discrimination from A. hydrophila and other motile aeromonads. This review aims to synthesise the key literature on A. dhakensis, particularly with relevance to aquaculture, including knowledge of the bacterium derived from disease case studies in aquatic hosts. Identification methods and strain phylogeny are discussed, with accurate detection important for prompt diagnosis and for distinguishing strains with heightened virulence. Increasing evidence suggests that A. dhakensis may be more virulent than A. hydrophila and correct identification is required to determine the zoonotic risks posed, which includes concerns for antibiotic-resistant strains. This review provides an impetus to improve species identification in the future and screen strain collections of presumptive Aeromonas spp. retrospectively to reveal the true prevalence and impact of A. dhakensis in aquaculture, the environment, and healthcare settings.

Keywords
aeromonad virulence; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria identification; molecular epidemiology; motile Aeromonas septicaemia (MAS); zoonosis

Journal
Pathogens: Volume 13, Issue 6

StatusPublished
Publication date online31/05/2024
Date accepted by journal30/05/2024
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/36103
PublisherMDPI AG
eISSN2076-0817

People (2)

Dr Kerry Bartie

Dr Kerry Bartie

Research Fellow / Experimental Officer, Sport

Dr Andrew Desbois

Dr Andrew Desbois

Senior Lecturer, Institute of Aquaculture

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