Insights on Skin Adherent Microbiota of the Danube sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Abstract

The present study assesses the bacterial composition associated with the skin of the Danube Sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, emphasizing species that are adherent. Various growth media were employed to cultivate samples collected from a group of 12 sturgeons from the same batch, revealing a diverse and atypical bacterial population. Notably, Ralstonia pickettii is documented here for the first time, as there have been no prior associations reported between this species and either wild or aquaculture sturgeon populations, to the best of our knowledge. The identification of adherent and non-adherent bacterial species present on the integument raises questions and concerns regarding the existing microbial communities in sturgeons.