The changes in various blood constituents were examined in the yellow-tail Seriola quinqueradiata inoculated with a pathogenic microorganism Nocardia kampachi. The changes characteristic of chronic suppurative inflammation were visually observed in most of the inoculated specimens. Increases in the total white cell, neutrophil, and monocyte counts and in the serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase were recognized. In addition, the A/G ratio was increased. Of the serum protein fractions as separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis, fractions II, II1, and III showed a significant increase. On the other hand, mature erythrocyte and reticulocyte counts, hemoglobin concentration, and the serum levels of fraction I, total cholesterol, urea-N and sodium were all observed to decrease slightly. It was noticed that the increases in neutrophil count, albumin level, and alkaline phosphatase activity precede external symptoms. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin and the serum levels of glucose, chloride, potassium, cal-cium, magnesium, phosphate-P, and of some enzymes such as GOT, GPT, LDH and LAP, remained unchanged.
From these results, it was concluded that the disturbances in the liver, kidney, and spleen caused by Nocardia inoculation are slight.
