Identification of as a bacterial pathogen of coral trout .

is a vital pathogen with potential danger for aquaculture animals. Yet pathogenic to the coral trout is still unknown. In this study, a virulent bacterial strain, temporarily named DX2, was isolated from diseased coral trout suffering liver necrosis with cell vacuolar degeneration, and was identified molecularly and phenotypically as . Besides, the DX2 isolate showed an LD value of 6.64×10 CFU mL, developed multiple resistances to cephalosporins, macrolides, penicillins, peptides, and sulfonamides antimicrobials, and was highly susceptible to doxycycline and florfenicol in aquaculture use. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the pathogenicity of to the coral trout, and the findings provide a reference for the control of pathogenic in the coral trout.