Characterization by numerical taxonomy and ribotyping of Vibrio splendidus biovar 1 and Vibrio scophthalmi strains associated with turbot cultures

Twelve Vibrio strains were examined phenotypically in 91 biochemical characters and genotypically by ribotyping. Tell were isolated from sea water and two from diseased turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). All isolates originated from one experimental system located in Ria de Vigo (Galicia, north-west Spain), Different: type strains were used, for comparative purposes, The taxonomic position was analysed with the NTSYST-pc and similarities among strains were calculated by the Simple Matching coefficient: (S-SM) rRNA gene restriction patterns were performed with the HindIII enzyme. The Ss, coefficient separated the 12 Vibrio strains into two groups which included strains that showed a S-SM coefficient quite similar to V. splendidus biovar I (ATCC 33125) and V. scophthalmi (CECT 4638), None of 91 phenotypical characters were specific in distinguishing both species, The ribotyping confirmed the taxonomic classification of strains. The pathogenicity of each strain was evaluated; 10 environmental st-rains were avirulent and two, isolated from diseased turbot, mere virulent. Different biotypes and ribotypes were found among the avirulent isolates. This work: showed ribotyping to be a valuable tool for identification and confirmed the necessity of extending the ribotype database within closely related Vibrio species in order to clarify the taxonomic position.