Mass Mortality of Cultured Kuruma Prawn Penaeus japonicus Caused by Vibrio nigripulchritudo

Abstract

A mass mortality of cultured kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus occurred in Kagoshima Prefecture in June, 2005. Affected prawns displayed a sluggish behavior or swimming on their side. The mean water temperature during the disease outbreak was 27°C. A black pigment-producing bacterium was isolated from the diseased prawns and was identified as Vibrio nigripulchritudo by bacteriological tests, 16S rDNA sequence analysis and DNA array for discrimination of Vibrio species. High pathogenicity of the isolated bacterium to healthy kuruma prawn was confirmed by intramuscular injection. This is the first report of V. nigripulchritudo infection in kuruma prawn.