WHOLE GENEME ANALYSIS OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT Aeromonas veronii ISOLATED FROM DISEASED DISCUS Symphysodon discus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the histopathology of discus infected with Aeromonas veronii, identify the causative agent (strain 17ISAe) using whole-genome sequencing, and understand its virulence and antibiotic susceptibility by comparing its genome with genomes of other strains of Aeromonas. This is the first study characterizing the genome of 45 strains of A. veronii including a strain isolated from ornamental fish, Symphysodon discus. This study shows that pathogenic strain 17ISAe harbors various antibiotic resistance genes and class 1 integrons and transposon (Figure 1.), indicating that imported fish represent a very important source of ARG emergence and transmission in 'domestic' bacteria. Based on a comparative genome analysis of 45 A. veronii strains, only a few strains including our strain 17ISAe originating from diseased fish carry critical virulence genes. Results presented in this study should encourage additional investigations into the role of ARGs internationally and contribute to our understanding A. veronii pathogenicity.