PCR protocol for Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi: Updated specificity for Tenacibaculum finnmarkense detection

Tenacibaculosis outbreaks at salmon farms in Chile and northern Norway are predominately caused by Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi and Tenacibaculum finnmarkense, respectively. Rapid pathogen detection and identification are crucial for effective disease management and control in sea farming. Our group recently designed the Tenadi Fw/Rv primer set using the highly effective 16S ribosomal RNA and PCR methodology for detecting T. dicentrarchi from mixed cultures and tissues of symptomatic/asymptomatic fish. The present study evaluated the specificity of this PCR protocol for detecting the type strain T. finnmarkense HFJ7. The PCR assay produced a 284 bp product for DNA, a result identical to that of the type strain T. dicentrarchi CECT 7612T. Application of a new assay using a real-time PCR protocol positively detected these two Tenacibaculum spp., both of which had a melting temperature of 83.8 0.4 aC. In conclusion, our PCR protocol could serve in the detection and diagnosis of not only T. dicentrarchi but also T. finnmarkense; notwithstanding, we recommend that diagnosis be conducted in conjunction with bacterial isolation and biochemical and phenotypic characterisation.