215
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
B. Austin, D.A. Austin, Bacterial Fish Pathogens,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32674-0_5
Chapter 5
Aeromonadaceae Representative ( Aeromonas
salmonicida )
Abstract Aeromonas salmonicida is a signifi cant pathogen of salmonids, and in its
atypical form has spread into cyprinids and marine fl atfi sh. Although Aeromonas
salmonicida subsp. salmonicida is homogeneous, atypical isolates are more heterogeneous and do not fi t into the current subspecies classifi cation. Questions about the
ecology of the organism remain but the consensus is that despite earlier work, cells
exist in the aquatic environment although largely in a nonculturable form.
Diagnostics have moved towards the use of sensitive and specifi c molecular methods. Disease control have focused on prophylaxis principally by vaccination, probiotics and immunostimulants.
Keywords Furunculosis • Ulcer disease • Pathogenicity • Vaccines •
Immunostimulants
Aeromonas salmonicida
Characteristics of the Diseases
Historically, Aer. salmonicida was thought to have a predilection for salmonids.
Over the years, however, the apparent host range of the pathogen has steadily
expanded. Thus, infections are known to occur among representative of several
major families of Osteicthys, including Cyprinidae, Serranidae and
Anoplopomatidiae, in addition to the Salmonidae (Herman 1968 ), and also the
Agnatha (Family Petromyzontidae) (Hall 1963 ). Non-salmonids which have been
documented as suffering from diseases of Aer. salmonicida aetiology include minnow and goldfi sh (Williamson 1929 ), carp (Bootsma et al. 1977 ), perch (Bucke
1979 ) and bream, roach, dace, chub, tench, pike, bullheads, sculpins and catfi sh
(McCarthy 1975a ), wrasse (Treasurer and Cox 1991 ), sea bream (Real et al. 1994 ),
sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) (Diamanka et al. 2014 ), and cultured marbled
sole ( Pleuronectes yokohamae ) in Japan [these isolates infected Japanese fl ounder
and spotted halibut ( Verasper variegates )] (Kumagai et al. 2006 ). In some of the
fi sh, particularly the non-salmonids, the disease may manifest itself in a different
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016
B. Austin, D.A. Austin, Bacterial Fish Pathogens,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32674-0_5
Chapter 5
Aeromonadaceae Representative ( Aeromonas
salmonicida )
Abstract Aeromonas salmonicida is a signifi cant pathogen of salmonids, and in its
atypical form has spread into cyprinids and marine fl atfi sh. Although Aeromonas
salmonicida subsp. salmonicida is homogeneous, atypical isolates are more heterogeneous and do not fi t into the current subspecies classifi cation. Questions about the
ecology of the organism remain but the consensus is that despite earlier work, cells
exist in the aquatic environment although largely in a nonculturable form.
Diagnostics have moved towards the use of sensitive and specifi c molecular methods. Disease control have focused on prophylaxis principally by vaccination, probiotics and immunostimulants.
Keywords Furunculosis • Ulcer disease • Pathogenicity • Vaccines •
Immunostimulants
Aeromonas salmonicida
Characteristics of the Diseases
Historically, Aer. salmonicida was thought to have a predilection for salmonids.
Over the years, however, the apparent host range of the pathogen has steadily
expanded. Thus, infections are known to occur among representative of several
major families of Osteicthys, including Cyprinidae, Serranidae and
Anoplopomatidiae, in addition to the Salmonidae (Herman 1968 ), and also the
Agnatha (Family Petromyzontidae) (Hall 1963 ). Non-salmonids which have been
documented as suffering from diseases of Aer. salmonicida aetiology include minnow and goldfi sh (Williamson 1929 ), carp (Bootsma et al. 1977 ), perch (Bucke
1979 ) and bream, roach, dace, chub, tench, pike, bullheads, sculpins and catfi sh
(McCarthy 1975a ), wrasse (Treasurer and Cox 1991 ), sea bream (Real et al. 1994 ),
sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) (Diamanka et al. 2014 ), and cultured marbled
sole ( Pleuronectes yokohamae ) in Japan [these isolates infected Japanese fl ounder
and spotted halibut ( Verasper variegates )] (Kumagai et al. 2006 ). In some of the
fi sh, particularly the non-salmonids, the disease may manifest itself in a different