In 1982 infections of cultured yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) with ampicillin (ABPC) resistant strains of Pasteurella piscicida were observed in the southwest of Japan. Determining whether current strains of P. piscicida are resistant or sensitive to ABPC is very important in the selection of initial antibiotics therapy for this infection. The detection of β-lactamase in ABPC resistant strains was attempted by using the rapid β-lactamase test of ROSENBLATT and NEUMANN (1978). The production of β-lactamase was found first in ABPC resistant strains of P. piscicida. The test was useful to determine whether the strain was resistant or not.
The rapid slide test can be, therefore, easily utilized as a rapid detection method for ABPC resistant P. piscicida in routine work.
