Investigation of the Genus <i>Flavobacterium</i> as a Reservoir for Fish-Pathogenic Bacterial Species: the Case of Flavobacterium collinsii
Bo-Hyung Lee, Pierre Nicolas, İzzet Burçin Satıcıoğlu, Benjamin Fradet, Jean‐François Bernardet, Dimitri Rigaudeau, Tatiana Rochat, Éric Duchaud
Abstract
species. We also focused on Flavobacterium collinsii, which belongs to a group of putative pathogenic species. The genome contents revealed a versatile metabolic repertoire suggesting the use of diverse nutrient sources, a characteristic of saprophytic or commensal bacteria. In a rainbow trout experimental challenge, the bacterium survived inside the host, likely escaping clearance by the immune system but without provoking massive mortality, suggesting opportunistic pathogenic behavior. This study highlights the importance of experimentally evaluating the pathogenicity of the numerous bacterial species retrieved from diseased fish.