COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF A MYCOBACTERIAL DISEASE OF SALMONOID FISHES .2. DESCRIPTION OF THE HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE DISEASE IN CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS-TSHAWYTSCHA) AND A COMPARISON OF THE STAINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FISH DISEASE WITH LEPROSY AND HUMAN TUBERCULOSIS

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Abstract
The staining characteristics of acid-fast bacilli causing a disease in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were compared with the staining characteristics of the acid-fast bacilli causing leprosy in humans. Both organisms are difficult to stain in prepared tissue sections. The Fite-Faraco method appears to be the method of choice for staining either bacilli in tissue. There does not appear to be any other basis for equating the two organisms by staining characteristics. The histopathology of the disease in juvenile and adult chinook salmon has been described. The outstanding characteristic of the disease is a complete lack of an inflammatory response to the organism. The pathology of the disease bears virtually no resemblance to that observed in leprosy, and only a superficial similarity exists with tuberculosis in humans. The pathology of the disease in salmon does not appear to be similar to the pathology described for other fresh- and salt-water fishes. It is suggested that the name of the disease be changed from "fish tuberculosis" to "fish mycobacteriosis," because of a lack of basic, comparative characteristics of the pathology and organisms of the disease. This name is in agreement with the identification of the organism from various fishes.

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