Detection, control, and prevention of photobacteriosis in cobia culture in Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this work was to analyse the detection, control, and prevention of photobacteriosis in cobia culture. This disease is caused by Photobacterium damselae bacterium, which, along with other factors, might be responsible for the stagnation in the development of national cobia (Rachycentron canadum) culture. This bacterium is considered one of the most important pathogens in marine fish culture, and it was responsible for major economic losses in a variety of countries. In Brazil, this bacterium has not yet getten proper attention, even though it was shown to have caused mortality in several cultured cobia fish. Photobacterium damselae has two subspecies, piscicida and damselae, which may be considered sanitary threats both to marine aquaculture economic activities and to human health, respectively. This paper presents some detection, control, and prevention strategies. It also emphasizes the need for a better sanitary control in cobia culture and the importance of vaccination against this pathogen.