Molecular serotyping, virulence gene profiling and pathogenicity of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from tilapia farms in Thailand by multiplex PCR

We identified two major serotypes of S. agalactiae isolates associated with the outbreak in tilapia culture in Thailand. We developed multiplex PCR assays for 14 virulence genes, which may be used to predict the pathogenicity of the isolates and track future infections. Multiplex PCR typing of the GBS virulence genes was developed and might be further used to predict the pathogenicity of S. agalactiae.