Ecological relationship between Aeromonas and Vibrio spp. and planktonic copepods in the coastal marine environment in Southern Italy

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 245 - 254
• Main Authors: Dumontet, S., Krovacek, K., Baloda, S.B., Grottoli, R., Pasquale, V., Vanucci, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acartia margalefi; Aeromonas; Aeromonas hydrophila; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; bacterial attachment; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; colonisation bacterienne; Copepoda; Copepodes; Copepods; Crustacea - microbiology; Ecology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Italy; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning - veterinary; Seawater; Vibrio; Vibrio cholerae non-O1; Water Microbiology; Southern Europe; Italy; Europe; bacterial attachment; Aeromonas hydrophila; Vibrio cholerae non-O1; Copepods; colonisation bacterienne; Copepodes; Laboratory study; Brackish water environment; Animal microorganism relation; Aeromonas; Crustacea; Arthropoda; Copepoda; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Invertebrata; Localization; Biological contamination; Zooplankton; Carapace; Colonization; Field study; Vibrio
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/0147-9571(96)00012-4

The colonisation of planktonic copepod integument by bacteria belonging to the family of Vibrionaceae is a well described phenomenon. In this study, besides reporting on the occurrence of Vibrionaceae and other enteropathogens, we further report on the bacterial attachment to the Estuarine copepod Acartia margalefi in a faecal polluted coastal lagoon near Naples, Southern Italy. In addition, we also performed a laboratory experiment to study the ability of 7 bacterial strains ( Vibrio cholerae non-O1, V. mimicus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas sp.) to colonise the copepod integument. For this laboratory study, 4 different species of copepods, namely Temora stylifera, A. clausi, Centropages typicus and Paracalanus parvus sampled from the Gulf of Naples (Southern Italy) were used. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies on the copepods sampled from the lagoon indicated that the bacterial attachment on the integument of Acartia margalefi was mainly on the ventro-lateral body region of the host and in the joints of the thoracic segments, as well as on the swimming and feeding appendages. This infestation, made by rod-like bacteria, was absent in winter but reached peak values of 70% frequency in June. The laboratory studies showed that while V. cholerae non-O1 and A. hydrophila attached on live and dead copepods, respectively, the V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. mimicus, E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. failed to colonise either live or dead copepods. Thus, this study provides further valuable information about the ecological relationship between different microorganisms (pathogens) and copepods in the coastal marine environment in Southern Italy. La colonisation du carapace de copepodes planctoniques par les bacteries de la famille des Vibrionaceae est un phénomène bien connu. Dans cette étude nous décrivons un épisode de colonisation bacterienne du copepode Acartia margalefi dans une lagune côtière près de Naples (Italie du Sud), polluée par des ègouts. Nous décrivons aussi la présence dans cette lagune de Vibrionaceae et d'autres bacteries pathogènes. En outre nous avons mise en place une experience pour étudier la capacité de 7 differentes souches bacteriennes ( Vibrio cholerae non-O1, V. mimicus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli et Pseudomonas sp.) de coloniser le carapace de 4 differents espèces de copepodes ( Temora stylifera, A. clausii, Centropages typicus et Paracalanus parvus) qui provenaient du golf de Naples. L'observation au microscope électronique a montré que la colonisation bacterienne prendait place principalement sue la région ventro-latèrale des copepodes, mais elle était aussi présente dans les joints des segments thoraciques et sur les appendices natatoires et buccaux. Nous avons décrit une contamination du même genre dans la lagune qui, presque absente en hiver, attaignait le 70% des copepodes en juin. Les resultats de l'experience en laboratoire ont montré que V. choleraeétait capable de coloniser les copepodes soit vivants que morts, tandis que A. hydrophila ne colonisait que les copepodes morts. V. parahaemolyticus, v. alginolyticus, V. mimicus, E. coli et Pseudomonas sp. n'étaient pas capable de coloniser les copepodes ni vivants ni morts. Cette étude fournis des informations nouvelles sur les rapports écologiques entre copepodes et bacteries pathogènes dans un milieu marin côtier du sud d'Italie.