Molecular characterization of Vibrio harveyi bacteriophages isolated from aquaculture environments along the coast of India.

Seven bacteriophages specific to Vibrio harveyi, the causative agent of luminous vibriosis in shrimp, were isolated from coastal aquaculture systems like shrimp farms, hatcheries and tidal creeks along the east and west coast of India. All the seven phages were found to have the typical head and tail morphology with double-stranded DNA as genetic material. Morphologically, six phages were grouped under family Siphoviridae and one under Myoviridae.