Diversity of yeast species and its potential pathogenic risks to the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

From June 2019 to May 2020, seven yeast strains different from Metschnikowia bicuspidate were isolated from Eriocheir sinensis without clinical sign collected from Panjin, Liaoning Province and Xinghua, Jiangsu Province, China. Molecular biological analysis combined with morphological observations and physiological and biochemical identification confirmed that the seven strains of yeast belong to Papiliotrema flavescens, P. aurea, P. pseudoalba, Rhodotorula diobovata, Rhodosporidiobolus odoratus, Cryptococcus sp. and Vishniacozyma sp., respectively. In addition, the injection challenge showed that all the strains were able to colonize E. sinensis. These results demonstrated their diversity and the potential pathogenic risk to E. sinensis.