Changes in Hematological Properties and Viable Cell Number of Bacteria inAmago Salmon Artificially Infected with Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract

Amago salmon Oncorhynchus rhodurus were artificially infected with A. salmonicida, the bacterial agent of the furunculosis of salmonids, and changes in number of red blood cells, hematocrit value, hemoglobin concentration, plasma protein concentration and number of viable cells of inoculated bacteria in various organs were studied.
All the fish died until 8 days post inoculation of bacteria.
The inoculation produced a furuncle around the site of the injection. However, no severe damage was observed in other organs including the intestine.
Number of red blood cells, hematocrit value, hemoglobin concentration and plasma protein concentration showed a tendency to decrease at 3 or 4 days post inoculation of bacteria.
A. salmonicida was reisolated from all the organs examined of moribund fish inoculated with the bacteria. The number of viable cells in the liver and kidney were found around 10⁷⁸ cells/g wet tissue.