Abstract
Extracellular growth products, extracted from culture supernatants of Aeromonas salmonicida by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and ethanol, were resolved into four fractions by ion-exchange chromatography. Although one of these (fraction II) possessed leukocytolytic activity, virulence of the pathogen was not associated with leukocytotoxicity. A positive correlation was established, however, between virulence and the toxicity of extracted material to cultured rainbow trout gonad (RTG-2) cells. The crude material and fractions II and III from virulent isolates were more toxic to RTG-2 cells than were similar preparations from avirulent isolates. Preparations from virulent isolates caused hemorrhaging, lesion development, and mortality when injected intramuscularly into brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo solar). Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were more resistant and lesions could be produced only with fraction II. Fraction II also possessed proteolytic activity.Key words: Aeromonas salmonicida, furunculosis, pathogenicity, salmonids, extracellular products, cytotoxicity, leukocytolysis, proteolysis, fishes
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
