Experimental Production of Bacterial Gill Disease in Trout by Horizontal Transmission and by Bath Challenge
- 1 June 1991
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Aquatic Animal Health
- Vol. 3 (2) , 118-123
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8667(1991)003<0118:epobgd>2.3.co;2
Abstract
Bacterial gill disease was horizontally transmitted both within and between salmonid species by using good‐quality water common to both sick and healthy fish, and by using young and mature animals. Clinical disease was produced within 24 h, and mortality resulted often within 48 h, even in 2‐ or 3‐year‐old rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Clinical disease was correlated with the appearance of filamentous bacteria on the gill surface. These bacteria were isolated and determined to be morphologically, biochemically, and antigenically related to Flavobacterium branchiophila. Subsequently, they were used to produce bacterial gill disease in fingerling rainbow trout by adding a pure culture of 105 organisms/mL of tank water; once again, good water quality conditions were maintained. Attachment of large numbers of bacteria to the gill surface was seen immediately postexposure, followed by clinical disease within 20 h and death by 24 h.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: