Molecular Identification and Virulence Potential of the Genus Isolated from Wild Rainbow Trout () in Mexico.

The members of the genus are important foodborne pathogens, with a worldwide distribution. Wild rainbow trout, from the national protected area Santuario del Agua State Park, Corral de Piedra, were analyzed. Species of were isolated from the trout, and their pathogenic potential was analyzed based on different pathogenicity and virulence factors. The isolates were identified as ( = 15), ( = 8), ( = 3), ( = 2), ( = 2), and ( = 1), by RNA polymerase sigma factor () gene sequencing. Sequence similarity with the type strain was 92.2 to 99.6% for isolates, 97.8 to 98.0% for isolates 99.2% for the isolate, 99.2 to 100% for isolates, and 98.2 to 99.2% for isolates. Notably, isolates A30T2-gills and A30T2-spleen showed sequence similarity of 98.0% with strain CECT 4232T and 99.0% with strain P2G1T. Virulence genes were detected by PCR at the following frequencies: and serine protease, 96.77%; 93.54%; 87.09%; lipases, 74.19%; and 67.74%; 61.29%; 41.93%; 38.70%; 32.26%; 6.46%; 9.67%; and 3.23%. These results indicate that several species had the potential pathogenicity to infect wild rainbow trout in the waterway created by the Corral de Piedra dam, suggesting they could be an emerging zoonotic pathogen.