Comparative Molecular and Antimicrobial Analysis of Lactococcus garvieae and Lactococcus petauri from Marine and Freshwater Fish Farms in the Mediterranean

Piscine lactococcosis is an emerging Bacterial disease that threatens freshwater and marine aquaculture in the Mediterranean region. This study characterized isolates of Lactococcus garvieae and Lactococcus petauri from farmed fish through molecular identification, genomic typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 39 Bacterial strains were analyzed using species-specific Real-Time PCR assays, multilocus sequence typing and broth microdilution to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations. Results suggest a temporal shift in freshwater systems, where L. garvieae predominated in earlier isolates (mainly ST13, CC4), while L. petauri (ST14, CC14) appears as the dominant species in recent years. In marine fish, only L. garvieae was detected, mainly ST95 (CC95), a lineage previously reported in Europe. Molecular variability was found in both species with lineages capable of infecting livestock and humans. Amoxicillin displayed promising results; florfenicol showed moderate activity, while flumequine exhibited no inhibitory effect. Oxytetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole showed variable results requiring prudent use. These region-specific susceptibility profiles provide updated baseline data to guide empirical antimicrobial therapy while awaiting laboratory confirmation, highlighting the evolution of lactococcosis in aquaculture and emphasizing the need for molecular surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and vaccine updates within a One Health framework to mitigate impacts on Mediterranean aquaculture and public health.

European seabass; Lactococcus garvieae; Lactococcus petauri; One Health; antimicrobial susceptibility; aquaculture; gilthead seabream; molecular diagnostics; piscine lactococcosis; rainbow trout.