First Detection of Photobacterium spp. in Acute Hemorrhagic Septicemia from the Nursehound Shark Scyliorhinus stellaris

The nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris is a threatened shark species and its population in the Mediterranean Sea declining. Programs for captive breeding repopulation marine protected areas (MPA) are being carried out. Unfortunately, pathogens may hinder conservation plans this species. An impactful disease of animals, caused by bacteria Photobacterium damselae, has been detected with increased frequency recent decades both farmed animals. aim work was to determine cause outbreak eight nursehounds that died after 18 months captivity. Gross necropsy observations were indicative presumptive diagnosis hemorrhagic septicemia. Histological molecular techniques performed, diagnose etiological agents could be involved their mortality. Phylogenetic analysis indicated presence P. identified as subsp. damselae PCR-duplex, swingsii analyzed stellaris.