Date Received: 16-07-2025 / Date Accepted: 17-09-2025 / Date Published: 31-10-2025
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of key environmental factors on the growth of Streptococcus iniae, a pathogenic bacterium affecting Pompano (Trachinotus spp.), under in vitro conditions. Fish samples (n = 54) exhibiting exophthalmia and hemorrhages, collected from Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Ninh Binh, were used for bacterial isolation. Bacterial identification was performed through morphological analysis, biochemical characterization, PCR techniques, and experimental infection. A representative S. iniae isolates from each province was utilized to assess the effects of temperature, pH, and salinity on bacterial growth. A total of nine S. iniae strains were successfully isolated and identified. The evaluation of environmental influences after 36 hours of cultivation on three representative isolates revealed that S. iniae can grow within a temperature range of 15-45°C, with optimal growth observed between 25-40°C. The bacteria grow well at pH of 6-8, with optimal at neutral pH (pH = 7). Additionally, S. iniae can survive and develop at salinities ranging from 0 to 60‰. However, its growth capacity tends to decline gradually with increasing salinity. The findings provide a scientific basis for developing strategies to prevent S. iniae-related diseases in pompano fish.