Two serotypes of Vibrio salmonicida isolated from diseased cod (Gadus morhua L.); virulence, immunological studies and vaccination experiments

Vibrio salmonicida is the causative agent of cold water vibriosis in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) in Norway and Scotland, and has more recently been isolated from Arcto-Norwegian cod. The present report deals with the serotyping of V. salmonicida isolated from cod, studies on its virulence, immunological properties, and the vaccination against cold water vibriosis in cod. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies it was shown that two distinct sero-types of V. salmonicida exist, one of which is serologically identical to the serotype previously isolated from salmon. Vibrio salmonicida was shown by bacterial titration to be much more virulent in salmon as compared to cod, but immune responses determined by production of specific antibodies were negligible in cod compared to similar immunisation of salmon. Although the antibody production in cod was low, an immersion vaccine based on formalin inactivated V. salmonicida elicited 90–100% protection against cold water vibriosis in this species.

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