Vibrio aestuarianus subsp. cardii subsp. nov., pathogenic to the edible cockles Cerastoderma edule in France, and establishment of Vibrio aestuarianus subsp. aestuarianus subsp. nov. and Vibrio aestuarianus subsp. francensis subsp. nov.

Cockle mortality events have been reported in northern France since 2012. In the present study, we describe and investigate implication of a potential bacterial causative agent cockle mortality. Bacteria isolated from five different were characterized studied. Using phenotypic analysis combined with DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) whole genome sequencing, isolates shown to belong Vibrio aestuarianus , species regularly detected during oyster events. Comparison strains cockles French oysters type strain showed that genetically those also V. strain. Moreover, classified into two different, but close, groups both separated by: (1) analyses ldh gene sequences; (2) DDH assays between 12/122 3T3 T (LMG 31436 =DSM 109723 ), representative strain, 02/041 (CIP 109791 =LMG 24517 ) LMG 7909 ; (3) average nucleotide identity values calculated on genomes; (4) traits. Finally, results MALDI-TOF revealed specific peaks discriminating three strains. The toxicity these was demonstrated by experimental infection hatchery-produced cockles. data therefore allow us propose novel subspecies : subsp. cardii nov. for francensis Pacific strains, addition an emended description .