First Identification and Characterization of Lactococcus garvieae Isolated from Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Cultured in Mexico

Lactococcosis is a hyperacute hemorrhagic septicemia disease caused by Lactococcus garvieae, which is an emerging pathogen in global fish farming. Between 2016 and 2018, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from five farms that presented outbreaks were sampled as part of a Mexican surveillance program for the detection of fish diseases. Fourteen L. garvieae isolates were recovered from sampled fish, as confirmed by biochemical tests, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and clinical and histological insights. The biochemical and protein profiles of the isolates obtained were homogeneous. Repetitive extragenic palindromic—(REP)—and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) analyses established weak genetic heterogeneity. Rainbow trout challenged with two of the isolates used at different bacterial concentrations (10−2 and 10−4 CFU/mL) showed melanosis, and hemorrhages were observed in the fins, liver, kidney, and spleen. Isolates were obtained from all of the organs sampled, including from surviving fish, as either pure or mixed cultures. The present study is the first to confirm the presence of L. garvieae as the agent of severe lactococcosis outbreaks in the two primary Mexican states for trout farming.