First Report on the Prevalence of Vibrio mimicus in the Shrimp Aquaculture Farms of Kerala, India: A Surveillance Study

Abstract

Among emerging pathogens in aquatic systems, Vibrio mimicus—a close genetic relative of V. cholerae— has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its ability to cause gastroenteritis in humans and infections in cultured finfish and shellfish (Baker-
Austin et al., 2018). This bacterium is typically a non-halophile associated with freshwater and low salinity environments, and several reports from aquaculture settings worldwide have identified it as an important pathogen in farmed species (Banerjee, Ooi, Shariff, & Khatoon, 2012; Geng et al., 2014; Raja, Panigrahi, De, & Kumar, 2017; Feng et al., 2024). In recent years, V. mimicus carries a dual implication as it compromises both human health and aquaculture productivity. Further, it may also act as a carrier of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), facilitating the spread of resistance determinants in aquatic environments (Baker-Austin et al., 2018; Alam et al., 2023; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], 2024).