Yersinia Ruckeri Infection Research Articles

Immunological, Antioxidant, Growth Responses, and Disease Resistance of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, with Feeding Diets Supplemented with Lactobacillus salivarius and Lutein

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus salivarius (LS) ATCC 11741 and lutein (LU) on immunological, antioxidant, and growth responses, and resistance against Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). There were seven experimental diets containing un-supplemented diet (CTL), L. salivarius at 1 × 106 (LS6) and 1 × 108 (LS8) CFU/g, lutein at 50 (LU50) and 150 (LU150) mg/kg, L. salivarius at 1 × 106 CFU/g plus lutein at 50 g/kg (LS6+LU50), and L. salivarius at 1 × 108 CFU/g plus lutein at 150 g/kg (LS8+LU150). These diets were provided to the fish (N= 735; 14.0±0.38 g). After 60 days of feeding, all experimental treatments exhibited significantly higher growth performance, compared to the CTL treatment. The intestinal protease activity and the intestinal lactic acid bacteria population in the probiotic-treated fish were significantly higher than in the CTL fish. The intestinal lipase activity was only higher in the LS6+LU50 treatment, compared to the CTL treatment. Compared to the CTL treatment, the intestinal total bacterial count, and serum superoxide dismutase significantly increased in the LS6+LU50 and LS8+LU150 treatments. The serum catalase significantly increased in LU150, LS6+LU50, and LS8+LU150 treatments, and serum glutathione peroxidase significantly increased in the lutein-treated fish. All experimental treatments, particularly LS6+LU50 and LS8+LU150, had significantly lower serum malondialdehyde levels, compared to the CTL treatment. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase in LU50, LS6+LU50, and LS8+LU150 treatments were significantly lower than the CTL. All experimental treatments showed significantly higher serum lysozyme (LYZ), complement, blood respiratory burst activity (RB), and skin mucus alkaline phosphatase (ALP), compared to the CTL treatment. The highest serum LYZ, C4, total immunoglobulin (Ig), blood RB activity, and skin mucus peroxidase, ALP, and Ig were observed in the LS6+LU50 and LS8+LU150 treatments. All the experimental treatments, especially LS6+LU50, exhibited significantly lower mortality after the bacterial challenge compared to the CTL. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1 × 106 CFU/g L. salivarius and 50 mg/kg lutein can maximally improve growth performance, digestive enzymes, antioxidant parameters, immune responses, intestinal lactic acid bacteria, and resistance against yersiniosis in rainbow trout.

Comparison of the Effects of Hesperidin Over 30- and 60-Day Intervals on Rainbow Trout: A Potential Biostimulant to Promote Growth, Immunological and Antioxidant Responses, and Disease Resistance

Abstract The current research evaluated the effects of dietary hesperidin (HSP) on growth parameters, digestive enzyme activities, innate immune markers, and antioxidant responses in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss after the 30- and 60-day feeding trial. Then, specimens were subjected to Yersinia ruckeri infection for 14 days. For this, six hundred rainbow trout juveniles (initial weight; 25.49±0.40 g) were fed with different levels of HSP including 0 (HSP0; control), 50 (HSP50), 100 (HSP100), 150 (HSP150), and 200 (HSP200) mg/kg feed. After 60 days, dietary HSP100 supplementation significantly improved growth and feed efficiency indices. The optimal dose of HSP based on the regression test for WG and FCR detected 122 and 131 mg/kg, respectively. At the end of the 30th day, dietary HSP150 supplementation markedly boosted serum lysozyme (LYZ), myeloperoxidase (MPO), complement component C3, and immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In the same period, dietary administration of HSP at the different concentrations markedly increased complement component C4 (HSP150 and HSP200), superoxide dismutase (SOD), skin mucus alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (HSP100–HSP200), skin mucus LYZ and catalase (CAT) (HSP100 and HSP 150), and skin mucus Ig level (HSP50–HSP200). After 60 days, all dietary HSP supplementation significantly improved lipase, serum C3, glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and skin mucus ALP, LYZ, and Ig levels, but decreased MDA, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values. After 60 days, dietary administration of HSP150 induced a significant discrepancy in the activity of serum LYZ, MPO, respiratory burst (RB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) compared to the control group. In the same period, dietary HSP supplementation at different levels induced a remarkable increase in digestive protease activity (HSP100), serum ACH50 and CAT activities (HSP100 and HSP150), skin mucus peroxidase and serum SOD levels (HSP100–HSP200), and serum C4 value (HSP50, HSP150, and HSP200), but markedly decreased ALP activity (HSP150 and HSP200). In addition, dietary HSP supplementation, especially HSP150, markedly boosted disease resistance against Y. ruckeri infection. The current data demonstrated that the oral administration of 100–150 mg/kg HSP has a high potential to promote growth performance, disease resistance, and faster induction of immune and antioxidant responses.

A Novel Postbiotic Product Based on Weissella cibaria for Enhancing Disease Resistance in Rainbow Trout: Aquaculture Application.

Postbiotics are innovative tools in animal husbandry, providing eco-friendly solutions for disease management within the industry. In this study, a new postbiotic product was evaluated for its impact on the health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In vivo studies were conducted to assess the safety of the Weissella cibaria strains used in postbiotic production. Additionally, this study evaluated the impact of diet supplementation with 0.50% postbiotics on growth performance during a 30-day feeding trial; the gut microbial communities, immunomodulation, and protection against Yersinia ruckeri infection were evaluated. The strains did not harm the animals during the 20-day observation period. Furthermore, the effect of postbiotics on growth performance was not significant (p < 0.05). The treated group showed a significant increase in acid-lactic bacteria on the 30th day of the feeding trial, with counts of 3.42 ± 0.21 log CFU/mL. Additionally, there was an up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in head kidney samples after 48 h of feed supplementation, whereas cytokines IL-10, IL-8, INF-γ, and TNF-α were down-regulated. The findings indicate that rainbow trout fed with postbiotics saw an improvement in their survival rate against Y. ruckeri, with a 20.66% survival improvement in the treated group. This study proves that incorporating postbiotics from two strains of W. cibaria previously isolated from rainbow trout into the diet of fish has immunomodulatory effects, enhances intestinal microbial composition, and improves fish resistance against Y. ruckeri.

Advancing the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) as a model for immunotoxicity testing: Characterization of the renal transcriptome following Yersinia ruckeri infection

Recent studies have utilized the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) to explore the immunotoxic effects associated with a variety of environmental contaminants in the absence of immunological stimuli. Though this approach allows for alterations in the resting immune system to be detected, previous evidence suggests that many immunotoxic effects may only manifest in the activated immune system. However, basic immune responses to pathogens have not been well described in this species. To expand the utility of the fathead minnow as a model for immunotoxicity testing, a more comprehensive understanding of the activated immune system is required. As such, the main goal of this study was to characterize the transcriptomic response to pathogen infection in the fathead minnow using RNA sequencing. To achieve this goal, female fathead minnows were intraperitoneally injected with either Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (sham-injected) or Yersinia ruckeri (pathogen-injected). Eight hours following injection, fish were sacrificed for the assessment of general morphological (i.e., mass, length, condition factor, hepatic index) and immunological (i.e., leukocyte counts, spleen index) endpoints. To assess the molecular immune response to Y. ruckeri, kidney tissue was collected for transcriptomic analysis. A comparison of sham- and pathogen-injected fish revealed that >1800 genes and >500 gene networks were differentially expressed.Gene networks associated with inflammation, innate immunity, complement, hemorrhaging and iron absorption are highlighted and their utility within the context of immunotoxicity is discussed. These data reveal pathogen-related molecular endpoints to improve data interpretation of future studies utilizing the fathead minnow as a model for immunotoxicity.

Extract of common mallow (Malvae sylvestris) enhances growth, immunity, and resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings against Yersinia ruckeri infection

The dietary effects of a native medicinal plant from Iran, common mallow (Malvae sylvestris), was evaluated on growth performance, innate immune parameters, mucosal immune parameters, and resistance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against Yersinia ruckeri. Therefore, 360 fish (initial weight 10.42 ± 0.09 g) were randomly distributed into 12 fiberglass tanks. Experimental diets supplemented with 0 (as control- C), 1% (M1), 3% (M2) and 5% (M3) levels of M. sylvestris flowers extract were fed to the fish based on 3% of body weight for 8 weeks. At the terminal sampling, growth performance, liver and digestive enzymes activities, blood and mucosal immune responses were determined. Results showed that M2 and M3 had greater final weight, weight gain, SGR, survival rate and lower FCR; higher levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, and lower cortisol levels in comparison to control; 5% extract also lowered cholesterol and glucose levels as well as Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. We reported higher values of hematocrit, hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), White Blood Cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC) and lymphocytes for treated groups. Innate immune responses (Alternative complement activity (ACH50) in M2 and M3 group, total Immunoglobulin (Ig) and lysozyme in M3), mucosal immune parameters (ACH50, total Ig for M2 and M3 group and lysozyme in all treated groups) were enhanced. Activities of digestive enzymes (protease in all treated groups, amylase for 3 and 5%, while lipase only for 5%) and lower activity of liver ALT enzyme in individuals treated with highest dose was observed. Overall results indicated that the extract can positively affect growth performance and immune responses of rainbow trout.

Assessing effects of dietary supplements on resistance against Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using different infection models

Ensuring that feed meets the increasing requirements of intense fish production in modern aquaculture is an ongoing process. As antimicrobial growth promotors have been banned from many markets, and as the use of antibiotics represent a rapidly growing concern, disease resistance promoted by functional feed supplements have become increasingly important. The bacterial pathogen Yersinia ruckeri has long been recognized as the cause of enteric redmouth disease. Affecting salmonids, in particular, infection with Y. ruckeri has severe consequences on animal welfare, as well as production economy and prescription of antibiotics.Using recently characterized experimental infection models, we have assessed the effect of prebiotic, probiotic and immunostimulatory feed supplements on resistance towards experimental infection with Y. ruckeri serotype O1 biotype 2 in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Proprietary, experimental feeds supplemented with organic acid blends, β-glucans either alone or co-supplemented with a nucleotide mix or Pediococcus acidilactici either alone or co-supplemented with mannan oligosaccharides were produced and tested across three separate trials. Using rainbow trout at different weights (3 g, 19 g and 50 g), each trial addressed the effects of these supplements on lysozyme activity and disease resistance following Y. ruckeri infection by cohabitation, intraperitoneal injection or bath exposure. Supplementation with P. acidilactici ± mannan oligosaccharides proved to have a consistent, positive effect on disease resistance. No effects on lysozyme activity was detected for any of the experimental feeds, and only a limited effect on the number of viable Y. ruckeri isolated from the spleen and gut tissues following infection was observed. Finally, the results of this study demonstrate that waterborne infection models causing low to moderate overall mortalities provided better resolution of experimental groups in infection setups testing these feed supplements.

Growth performance, haematological changes, immune response, antioxidant activity and disease resistance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed diet supplemented with ellagic acid

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of various levels of dietary ellagic acid (EA) on growth performance, haematological values, immune response, protection against Yersinia ruckeri infection, and oxidant/antioxidant status in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish were fed with the control diet and three different experimental diets containing three graded levels of EA (50, 100 and 200 mg kg−1 diet) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the growth performance [weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)], haematological values [the red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, haematocrit (Ht) level and erythrocyte indices: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)], immune response [white blood cell (WBC) count, oxidative radical production (nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay), phagocytic activity (PA) and phagocytic index (PI), total protein (TP) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, serum bactericidal activity (BA), lysozyme (LYZ) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities] and oxidant/antioxidant status [tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities] were analysed. In addition, fish were challenged by Y. ruckeri and survival rate was recorded for 14 days. In the groups fed with EA the growth parameters such as WG, SGR, and FCR did not vary significantly. The RBC count, Hb concentration, and Ht level increased in the groups fed with EA when compared with the control group. However, there were no significant differences in the MCV, MCH and MCHC values among the groups. The results demonstrated enhancement in all the immunological parameters in the groups fed with EA compared to the control group. The results obtained from challenge with Y. ruckeri revealed reduction in the mortalities in the groups fed with EA. The dietary EA stimulated the SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities in liver, head kidney and spleen as compared to the control group; however, a reverse trend was observed in the MDA levels of tissues. The present study suggest that EA can effectively enhance the haematological values, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and disease resistance in rainbow trout.

Proteome analysis reveals a role of rainbow trout lymphoid organs during Yersinia ruckeri infection process

Yersinia ruckeri is the causative agent of enteric redmouth disease in salmonids. Head kidney and spleen are major lymphoid organs of the teleost fish where antigen presentation and immune defense against microbes take place. We investigated proteome alteration in head kidney and spleen of the rainbow trout following Y. ruckeri strains infection. Organs were analyzed after 3, 9 and 28 days post exposure with a shotgun proteomic approach. GO annotation and protein-protein interaction were predicted using bioinformatic tools. Thirty four proteins from head kidney and 85 proteins from spleen were found to be differentially expressed in rainbow trout during the Y. ruckeri infection process. These included lysosomal, antioxidant, metalloproteinase, cytoskeleton, tetraspanin, cathepsin B and c-type lectin receptor proteins. The findings of this study regarding the immune response at the protein level offer new insight into the systemic response to Y. ruckeri infection in rainbow trout. This proteomic data facilitate a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions and response of fish against Y. ruckeri biotype 1 and 2 strains. Protein-protein interaction analysis predicts carbon metabolism, ribosome and phagosome pathways in spleen of infected fish, which might be useful in understanding biological processes and further studies in the direction of pathways.

Effects of soluble immunostimulants on mucosal immune responses in rainbow trout immersion-vaccinated against Yersinia ruckeri

Immersion vaccination of rainbow trout against Yersinia ruckeri infection is an established method to prevent enteric red mouth disease (ERM) but the effect is inferior to injection vaccination and the duration of protection is limited to less than six months. Adjuvants in vaccines may in general elevate the immune response and the present work elucidates how ERM immersion vaccination of trout in combination with exposure to soluble adjuvants, Montanide™ IMS 1312 VG PR and β-glucan, affects immune reactions. The former adjuvant, when used alone, induced a slightly increased protection (not statistically significant) whereas β-glucan did not increase protection. Adjuvant-treated and non-exposed groups showed elevated plasma lysozyme activity after challenge with Y. ruckeri. Specific antibody production was not positively affected by combining adjuvant and vaccine. Overall expression of immune genes tested was generally manifold higher in gills compared to skin. Only genes encoding SAA and IL-17C1 were expressed at a higher level in skin. Dynamic differences between the gill and skin compartments were also recorded for genes encoding cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A/F2, IL-17C1, IL-17C2, IL-22), immunoglobulins (IgM, IgD, IgT), cell markers (CD8α, TCR-β) and acute phase reactants (SAA, lysozyme). These genes were upregulated 24 h post-vaccination in fish gills exposed to both vaccine-adjuvant combinations when compared to fish exposed to vaccine alone. After a few weeks no vaccine induced reaction was seen and after challenge with bacteria mainly unvaccinated fish responded. Adjuvants used in combination with immersion vaccine clearly influences immune reactions and may improve duration and protection but further potency tests should be performed.

Dietary effects of garlic powder (Allium sativum) on growth, blood indices, carcass composition, and lysozyme activity in brown trout (Salmo caspius) and resistance against Yersinia ruckeri infection

In this research, dietary effect of garlic powder on growth parameters, carcass composition, some blood indices, and disease resistance against Yersinia ruckeri was studied in brown trout (Salmo caspius). Two hundred forty juvenile brown trout with mean initial weight of 19.94 ± 1.10 g were divided into 12 tanks (20 juveniles per each tank). Treatments prepared based on different levels of garlic led to four experimental diets including 0 (control), 10, 20, and 30 g/kg garlic powder and were used for 6 weeks. Fish fed 20 g/kg garlic had higher value (P 0.05). Lysozyme activity was improved by increasing the level of garlic in diet (30 g/kg); meanwhile, the use of 20 g/kg garlic caused the highest total protein value. Fish fed diet containing garlic showed higher survival rate against Y. ruckeri than that of control fish. Garlic powder is severely advised according to these results of improving growth, serum factors, and resistance against Y. ruckeri.

Evaluating the Effects of Dietary Prebiotic Mixture of Mannan Oligosaccharide and Poly‐β‐Hydroxybutyrate on the Growth Performance, Immunity, and Survival of Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792), Fingerlings

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of dietary poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and disease resistance of rainbow trout fingerlings. A total of 420 fingerlings, distributed equally into four different groups, each with three replicates, were fed a basal diet (control), 2% PHB (PHB), 0.2% MOS (MOS), or a diet supplemented with a mixture of 2% PHB and 0.2% MOS (PHB+MOS) for 60 d. Results showed that dietary PHB and/or MOS did not cause significant improvement in the growth performance of the fingerlings. The gut pH was markedly reduced; however, the activities of the digestive enzymes (except for pepsin and amylase by dietary PHB) were not significantly improved by the dietary supplements. Results also showed that dietary PHB and/or MOS markedly increased the resistance of the fingerlings toward Yersinia ruckeri infection, while the lowest total antibody was observed in fish fed control and MOS, indicating that MOS exerts its protective effects by modulating other mechanisms. Overall, this study provided a first screening effort to determine the effects of PHB and/or MOS as dietary supplements in rainbow trout fingerlings to develop an optimal prebiotic mix for improving the growth and health status of rainbow trout.

Hemato - Immunological and biochemical parameters, skin antibacterial activity, and survival in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following the diet supplemented with Mentha piperita against Yersinia ruckeri.

This study was aimed to assess the potential effects of Mentha piperita on the hemato - immunological and biochemical parameters, skin antibacterial activity and protection against Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. Fish were divided into 4 groups before being fed diets supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 3% of Mentha piperita (MP) plant extract for 8 weeks. Dose-dependent increases immune (both in skin mucus and blood serum) and hematological parameters (number of red and white cells, hematocrit and hemoglobin contents), as well as in respiratory burst activity, total protein, albumin, and neutrophil levels in fish fed supplemented diets compared to the control fish. Furthermore, dietary MP plant extract supplements have no significant effect on blood biochemical parameters and enzymatic activities of liver determined in serum of rainbow trout. After 8 weeks the cessation of feeding with MP plant extract, survival rates of 54.4%, 63.6% and 75.2% were recorded in groups which received 1, 2 and 3% of MP plant extract of feed, respectively, compared to 34.6% survivals in the control. This study underlying several positive effects of dietary administration of MP plant extract to farmed fish.

3D Visualization of the Initial Yersinia ruckeri Infection Route in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by Optical Projection Tomography

Despite the fact that enteric redmouth disease (ERM) in farmed rainbow trout is one of the most devastating disease problems, little is known about the initial route of infection and pathogenicity of the aetiological agent, Yersinia ruckeri. In order to determine the initially infected organs, optical projection tomography (OPT), a novel three-dimensional (3D) bio-imaging technique, was applied. OPT not only enables the visualization of Y. ruckeri on mucosal surfaces but also the 3D spatial distribution in whole organs, without sectioning. Rainbow trout were infected by bath challenge exposure to 1×108 CFU/ml of Y. ruckeri O1 for 1 hour. Three fish were sampled for OPT and immunohistochemistry (IHC) 1, 10 and 30 minutes, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours, as well as 2, 3, 7 and 21 days after the start of the infection period. Y. ruckeri was re-isolated from the blood of infected fish as early as 1 minute post infection. Both OPT and IHC analysis confirmed that the secondary gill lamellae were the only tissues infected at this early time point, indicating that Y. ruckeri initially infects gill epithelial cells. The experimentally induced infection caused septicemia, and Y. ruckeri was found in all examined organs 7 days post infection including the brain, which correlated with the peak in mortality. To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of Y. ruckeri infection in the brain, which is likely to cause encephalitis. This in part could explain the lethality of ERM in rainbow trout. Using OPT scanning it was possible to visualize the initial route of entry, as well as secondary infection routes along with the proliferation and spread of Y. ruckeri, ultimately causing significant mortality in the exposed rainbow trout. These results demonstrate that OPT is a state-of-the-art technique capable of visualizing pathogenesis at high resolution.

Role of central immune organs in vaccinated rainbow trout in protection against Yersinia ruckeri infection

Role of central immune organs in vaccinated rainbow trout in protection against Yersinia ruckeri infection

Yersinia ruckeri infection in cultured Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, at a semi-intensive fish farm in lower Egypt

A Yersinia ruckeri infection was recorded in 2007 among a group of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, from an earthen pond at a semi-intensive fish farm in Sharkiya Province, lower Egypt. The outbreak took place during the late winter-spring transition period, effecting a total of 130 out of 150 fish, with a prevalence of 66.6%. The affected fish presented typical signs of yersiniosis, including extensive lip, mouth, fin and skin hemorrhages and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, together with congestion of the internal organs. Tentative confirmation of the Yersinia ruckeri isolates was achieved using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), conventional biochemical assays and the API 20 E system. Mortalities were the result of a sharp fluctuation in water temperature, predation due to migratory birds that 'stopover' at this site, and to overstocking of ponds.

Occurrence of Yersinia ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish, Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas, and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in northern Finland

Yersinia ruckeri, the aetiological agent of enteric redmouth disease (ERM), is now generally recognized to be distributed worldwide. The pathology and epizootiology of the disease was first described by Rucker (1966) and although rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, has been the most frequently affected species, all salmonids are now considered to be potential hosts for the organism (McDaniel 1979). The present paper reports the first confirmed occurrence of Y. ruckeri infection in farmed whitefish and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Finland, with the known host range being extended to include the whitefish Coregonus peled Gmelin and Coregonus muksun Pallas . The outbreaks of infection involved two fish farms on the Oulujoki and Iijoki rivers in northern Finland (Fig. 1). Infection in whitefish Yersinia ruckeri infection was first identified in July 1982 in a mixed population of 3500 C. peled and C. muksun broodstock fish held in a single 1000-m 2 earthen pond at farm A. The organism was isolated from only one of four diseased C. muksun examined bacteriologically at this time and mortalities during the summer months were light (0 .5-1 .0%) for both species. The following year Y. ruckeri was isolated from the internal organs of both C. peled and-C. muksun on a number of occasions during the period from June to August, but again mortalities remained at a low level (0 .5—F5%) throughout. In 1984 infection was confirmed in C. peled but not C. muksun broodstock (Fig. 2). The low levels of mortality associated with the Y. ruckeri infection are similar to those recorded for diseased brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), and landlocked Atlantic salmon in Australia where a Y. ruckeri-like organism was isolated (Llewellyn 1980) and in an ERM outbreak in rainbow trout in Canada (Wobeser 1973). Diseased whitefish showed loss of scales, haemorrhages on the body surface and paired fin bases, and petechiation in the peritoneum and visceral fat. Some affected fish. also exhibited severe inflammation of the distal portion of the intestine and vent. Saprolegnia