Browsing by Author "Kusch, Karina"

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    Genomics of Re-Emergent Aeromonas salmonicida in Atlantic Salmon Outbreaks
    (2024) Godoy, Marcos; Montes de Oca, Marco; Suarez, Rudy; Martinez, Alexis; Pontigo, Juan Pablo; Caro, Diego; Kusch, Karina; Coca, Yoandy; Bohle, Harry; Bayliss, Sion; Kibenge, Molly; Kibenge, Frederick
    Furunculosis, caused by Aeromonas salmonicida, poses a significant threat to both salmonid and non-salmonid fish in diverse aquatic environments. This study explores the genomic intricacies of re-emergent A. salmonicida outbreaks in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Previous clinical cases have exhibited pathological characteristics, such as periorbital hemorrhages and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Genomic sequencing of three Chilean isolates (ASA04, ASA05, and CIBA_5017) and 25 previously described genomes determined the pan-genome, phylogenomics, insertion sequences, and restriction-modification systems. Unique gene families have contributed to an improved understanding of the psychrophilic and mesophilic clades, while phylogenomic analysis has been used to identify mesophilic and psychrophilic strains, thereby further differentiating between typical and atypical psychrophilic isolates. Diverse insertion sequences and restriction-modification patterns have highlighted genomic structural differences, and virulence factor predictions can emphasize exotoxin disparities, especially between psychrophilic and mesophilic strains. Thus, a novel plasmid was characterized which emphasized the role of plasmids in virulence and antibiotic resistance. The analysis of antibiotic resistance factors revealed resistance against various drug classes in Chilean strains. Overall, this study elucidates the genomic dynamics of re-emergent A. salmonicida and provides novel insights into their virulence, antibiotic resistance, and population structure.
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    Isolation of a New Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) Variant from Genetically Resistant Farmed Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) during 2021-2022
    (2022) Godoy, Marcos; Kibenge, Molly J. T.; de Oca, Marco Montes; Pontigo, Juan Pablo; Coca, Yoandy; Caro, Diego; Kusch, Karina; Suarez, Rudy; Burbulis, Ian; Kibenge, Frederick S. B.
    Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), caused by IPNV, affects several species of farmed fish, particularly Atlantic salmon, and is responsible for significant economic losses in salmon aquaculture globally. Despite the introduction of genetically resistant farmed Atlantic salmon and vaccination strategies in the Chilean salmon industry since 2019, the number of IPN outbreaks has been increasing in farmed Atlantic salmon in the freshwater phase. This study examined gross and histopathological lesions of IPNV-affected fish, as well as the IPNV nucleotide sequence encoding the VP2 protein in clinical cases. The mortality reached 0.4% per day, and the cumulative mortality was from 0.4 to 3.5%. IPNV was isolated in the CHSE-214 cell line and was confirmed by RT-PCR, and VP2 sequence analysis. The analyzed viruses belong to IPNV genotype 5 and have 11 mutations in their VP2 protein. This is the first report of IPN outbreaks in farmed Atlantic salmon genetically resistant to IPNV in Chile. Similar outbreaks were previously reported in Scotland and Norway during 2018 and 2019, respectively. This study highlights the importance of maintaining a comprehensive surveillance program in conjunction with the use of farmed Atlantic salmon genetically resistant to IPNV.