Occurrence of Vibrio sp. infection in grouper, Epinephelus suillus

Abstract

Vibrio sp., was consistently isolated from grouper, Epinephelus suillus, with bacterial infection. Fingerlings, which were challenged with the bacterium by injection, were highly susceptible. Immersion challenge resulted in 100% mortality within 48 hrs in fish subjected to combination of injury and exposure to the bacterium. Mortality in uninjured fish was observed in the long bath subgroup, but not in the short bath subgroup. These results are correlated with the present practices in the grouper fingerling industry in the Philippines.