Distance matrices for the MLSA combined sequence dataset (data not shown) provided additional
evidence that supported the clustering of PP-203T , PP-200 and PP-204 (similarity ¢99.9 %) and their substantial genetic divergence from other closely related species of the genus Vibrio (highest similarity 88.5–88.0 %, with the species V. neptunius, V. coralliilyticus, V. orientalis, Vibrio ichthyoenteri and V. pectenicida)