Uncommon Pathogens in Common Presentations: Genetic Profiling and Virulence Determinants of Vibrio alginolyticus Isolated from a Case of External Otitis

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article addresses the identification of a rare pathogen using both traditional and advanced methods, with the aim of improved characterization and targeted therapy. It fits within the journal’s scope. 

The methods are appropriate and clearly described, although they could be discussed in more depth in relation to the initial premise. The authors state that diagnosing rare pathogens is challenging, yet in this case, identification appears to have been straightforward and immediate using both traditional and advanced methods. It would be useful to discuss whether the methods yielded the same results simultaneously, whether the advanced method guided the traditional one, or vice versa.

Given these premises, I would also suggest specifying the setting and level of the laboratory (which appears to be a university-based facility), in order to better contextualize the resulting diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in relation to laboratory organization and the availability of such techniques (to be addressed in the discussion). See, for example, the recent contribution: doi.org/10.3390/clinpract15070118.

title : not completely informative considering the discussion and the wide discussion on genetic characteristic and virulence factors. Please revise

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article addresses the identification of a rare pathogen using both traditional and advanced methods, with the aim of improved characterization and targeted therapy. It fits within the journal’s scope.

The methods are appropriate and clearly described, although they could be discussed in more depth in relation to the initial premise. The authors state that diagnosing rare pathogens is challenging, yet in this case, identification appears to have been straightforward and immediate using both traditional and advanced methods. It would be useful to discuss whether the methods yielded the same results simultaneously, whether the advanced method guided the traditional one, or vice versa. Given these premises, I would also suggest specifying the setting and level of the laboratory (which appears to be a university-based facility), in order to better contextualize the resulting diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in relation to laboratory organization and the availability of such techniques (to be addressed in the discussion). See, for example, the recent contribution: doi.org/10.3390/clinpract15070118.

Response: Thank you, details regarding the case management and the laboratories involved in the Vibrio analysis are now presented in the Material and methods.

 

title : not completely informative considering the discussion and the wide discussion on genetic characteristic and virulence factors. Please revise

Response: Thank you, the title was slightly adapted to reflect the genetic analysis.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please find the attached files for details comments.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Introduction: Line 52-78: Author cited different findings in introduction, while I will suggest strengthening the introduction to explicitly state how this case adds to existing literature in a European context.

Response: Thank you, we have adapted the introduction section to strengthen the relevance of the case in Europe area.

 

 

Methods: Clarify if ethical approval covered both sequencing and clinical sampling, or only patient data handling. Currently, this is mentioned later in the ethics statement, but an early mention here would improve transparency.

Response: Thank you, the ethical statement was also inserted in the manuscript in the Materials and methods section. We also added the patient’s informed consent statement.