Antigen profiles of the fish pathogen Moritella viscosa and protection in fish

Abstract

Moritella viscosa is a gram-negative bacterium that causes winter ulcer disease in salmonid fish cultured in sea water below 8 degrees C. The aim of this study was to study the antigen profiles of these bacteria and to reveal the protection which the antigens induce in fish. Lipooligosaccharides (LOS) and an approximately 17-19 kDa outer membrane antigen were shown to be the major specific antigens of M. viscosa. The size of the wall antigen differed between strain groups and even between strains reacting positively in the same sera. Four different serotypes of M. viscosa were determined by producing polyclonal sera. Western blot analysis revealed that sera from vaccinated fish groups that had good or fair protection reacted against the LOS and the 17/19 kDa antigen, while no antibody response was observed with sera from groups that showed no efficacy. The study provides evidence that LOS and an approximately 17-19 kDa outer membrane antigen are the major specific protective antigens of M. viscosa, and that the M. viscosa species consists of many different serotypes. The results are important for the production of vaccines against winter ulcers and should also lead to better methods of verifying the bacteria and monitoring winter ulcers.