Genetic Relationships of Vibrio salmonicida sp. nov. to Other Fish-Pathogenic Vibrios

Strains of Vibrio salmonicida that were isolated from different localities on the Norwegian west coast and strains of Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio ordalii, and Vibrio parahemolyticus were compared genetically. Our results showed that strains of V. salmonicida constitute a homogeneous group (82 to 100% deoxyribonucleic acid homology), which is distinct from the other species, and that V. anguillarum is a rather diverse species. This diversity seems to be related to the host specificity of the bacterial strains.