Confirmed Outbreaks of Streptococcosis Caused by Streptococcus agalactiae Serotype Ia in Nile Tilapia Culture From Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

Streptococcus agalactiae was confirmed as the etiologic agent of streptococcosis in Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) from Campeche, Mexico, during a cross‐sectional investigation of eight semi‐intensive farms (2021–2022) that yielded virulent strains in a challenge assay. Standard bacteriology, histopathology, API‐20 Strep phenotyping, one‐step PCR, and real‐time PCR confirmed S. agalactiae in five farms (62.5%). Gross and histological lesions were characterised by mid‐axial and peduncular muscle abscesses, extensive myonecrosis, granuloma formation, polyserositis, and occasional suppurative meningitis. Experimental infections fulfilled Koch's postulates. Juveniles of O. niloticus (20 g) infected with strain ASG‐2290 at 10 6 CFU/mL produced 53% mortality at 96 h. Whole‐genome sequencing of the strains ASG‐2290 and ASG‐2292 identified them as S. agalactiae Ia, marking the first report of this serotype isolated from farmed tilapia in Mexico. Frequent interstate fry movements are likely to be a risk factor for pathogen dissemination. These findings document the geographic expansion of pathogenic S. agalactiae into the Yucatan Peninsula, underscoring the need for strengthened surveillance, biosecurity, and diagnostic capacity to mitigate economic losses in Mexican tilapia aquaculture. Considering that tilapia aquaculture is carried out all year‐round in the Yucatan Peninsula, the implications of these findings are of major concern.

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