Genetic diversity and phenotypic characterization of Iodobacter limnosediminis associated with skin lesions in freshwater fish

The relatively unknown genus Iodobacter sp. has been repeatedly isolated from skin ulcers and saprolegniosis on freshwater fish in Finland, especially farmed salmonids. Genetic characterization verified that all 23 bacterial isolates studied here belonged to the species Iodobacter limnosediminis, previously undescribed from the fish microbiota. Whole-genome pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed variability between the I. limnosediminis strains, suggesting that they were most likely of environmental origin. Two I. limnosediminis strains caused lesions in 27%–53% of brown trout (Salmo trutta) injected intramuscularly (p ≤ .05). The lesions represented moderate to severe tissue damage, but…