Pseudotuberculosis

Abstract

Pseudotuberculosis caused by Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (= Pasteurella piscicida) is a bacterial disease of cultured fish belonged to genus Seriola. The disease frequently occurs among juveniles at a water temperature ranging from 20 to 25°C with a high mortality rate. A characteristic disease sign is occurrence of a lot of small, white spots in the spleen and kidney, which consist of bacterial colonies and focal tissue necrosis. The disease can be cured by administrating antibiotics, but P. damselae subsp. piscicida possessing multiple drug resistance has been found. In Japan, several adjuvant vaccines are commercially available.