Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea
IntroductionPhotobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (PDD) is an emerging marine bacterial pathogen that infects marine animals and humans, causing fatal necrotizing fasciitis and histamine fish poisoning. Despite its clinical and ecological importance, the microbiological and genomic characteristics...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1574705/full |
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| author | Tae Seon Cha Seon Young Park Kyunglee Lee Eun Jeong Park Jong Beom Na Ye Bin Kim Keeman Lee Soojin Lim Namgyu Uh Ji-Youl Jung Byung Yeop Kim Bumkeun Kim Jee Eun Han Ji Hyung Kim |
| author_facet | Tae Seon Cha Seon Young Park Kyunglee Lee Eun Jeong Park Jong Beom Na Ye Bin Kim Keeman Lee Soojin Lim Namgyu Uh Ji-Youl Jung Byung Yeop Kim Bumkeun Kim Jee Eun Han Ji Hyung Kim |
| author_sort | Tae Seon Cha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPhotobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (PDD) is an emerging marine bacterial pathogen that infects marine animals and humans, causing fatal necrotizing fasciitis and histamine fish poisoning. Despite its clinical and ecological importance, the microbiological and genomic characteristics of PDD remain largely unknown.MethodsWe report the first case of systemic infection caused by PDD in a free-ranging spotted seal (Phoca largha) stranded in Korea. Histopathological and microbial examinations were performed, followed by genomic analysis of the isolated PDD strain GCUPdd. Histamine production capability and cytotoxic effects on human cells were also evaluated.ResultsPDD was identified as the presumptive cause of systemic infection in the seal. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of pPHDD-like plasmid and major virulence factors including damselysin, phobalysin, and phospholipase. Strain GCUPdd harbored a gene cluster for histamine production (histidyl-tRNA synthetase, histidine decarboxylase, and histidine-histamine antiporter) and exhibited significantly higher histamine-producing ability than the reference PDD strain. The strain also demonstrated cytotoxic effects on human cells.DiscussionAlthough the pathogenic role of PDD in pinnipeds remains unclear, this study highlights its zoonotic potential and the importance of monitoring PDD in marine environments. Our findings contribute to understanding risk factors for histamine fish poisoning and provide insights into microbial diversity in marine mammals, emphasizing the need for further surveillance concerning PDD pathogenicity and role in public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfb17e7412514fa2b7421b0ffb48546b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfb17e7412514fa2b7421b0ffb48546b2025-08-20T03:41:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-08-011210.3389/fvets.2025.15747051574705Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in KoreaTae Seon Cha0Seon Young Park1Kyunglee Lee2Eun Jeong Park3Jong Beom Na4Ye Bin Kim5Keeman Lee6Soojin Lim7Namgyu Uh8Ji-Youl Jung9Byung Yeop Kim10Bumkeun Kim11Jee Eun Han12Ji Hyung Kim13Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaVeterinary Drugs and Biologics Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of KoreaCetacean Research Institute, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Ulsan, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaCetacean Research Institute, National Institute of Fisheries Science, Ulsan, Republic of KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Industrial and Maritime Police, College of Ocean Science, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of KoreaInstitute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of KoreaInstitute for Veterinary Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Food Science and Biotechnology, College of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of KoreaIntroductionPhotobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (PDD) is an emerging marine bacterial pathogen that infects marine animals and humans, causing fatal necrotizing fasciitis and histamine fish poisoning. Despite its clinical and ecological importance, the microbiological and genomic characteristics of PDD remain largely unknown.MethodsWe report the first case of systemic infection caused by PDD in a free-ranging spotted seal (Phoca largha) stranded in Korea. Histopathological and microbial examinations were performed, followed by genomic analysis of the isolated PDD strain GCUPdd. Histamine production capability and cytotoxic effects on human cells were also evaluated.ResultsPDD was identified as the presumptive cause of systemic infection in the seal. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of pPHDD-like plasmid and major virulence factors including damselysin, phobalysin, and phospholipase. Strain GCUPdd harbored a gene cluster for histamine production (histidyl-tRNA synthetase, histidine decarboxylase, and histidine-histamine antiporter) and exhibited significantly higher histamine-producing ability than the reference PDD strain. The strain also demonstrated cytotoxic effects on human cells.DiscussionAlthough the pathogenic role of PDD in pinnipeds remains unclear, this study highlights its zoonotic potential and the importance of monitoring PDD in marine environments. Our findings contribute to understanding risk factors for histamine fish poisoning and provide insights into microbial diversity in marine mammals, emphasizing the need for further surveillance concerning PDD pathogenicity and role in public health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1574705/fullPhotobacterium damselae subsp. damselaemarine mammalrisk factorcytotoxicityhistamine poisoning |
| spellingShingle | Tae Seon Cha Seon Young Park Kyunglee Lee Eun Jeong Park Jong Beom Na Ye Bin Kim Keeman Lee Soojin Lim Namgyu Uh Ji-Youl Jung Byung Yeop Kim Bumkeun Kim Jee Eun Han Ji Hyung Kim Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea Frontiers in Veterinary Science Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae marine mammal risk factor cytotoxicity histamine poisoning |
| title | Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea |
| title_full | Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea |
| title_short | Characterization of Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from a spotted seal (Phoca largha) (Pinnipedia: Phocidae) stranded in Korea |
| title_sort | characterization of photobacterium damselae subsp damselae isolated from a spotted seal phoca largha pinnipedia phocidae stranded in korea |
| topic | Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae marine mammal risk factor cytotoxicity histamine poisoning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1574705/full |
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