Pathogenicity of live bacteria and extracellular products of motileAeromonasisolated from eels

The pathogenic activities in vitro and in vivo of live bacteria and extracellular products (ECP) of 24 motile Aeromonas strains were investigated. Most Aer. hydrophila and Aer. jandaei isolates were pathogenic for eels (LD50 105·4‐107·6 cfu fish‐1) but no Aer. sobria, Aer. caviae and Aer. allosaccharophila caused mortality in eels at doses of > 108·4 cfu fish‐1. Of these Aeromonas strains, Aer. hydrophila and Aer. jandaei in particular produced elastases and haemolysins against fish erythrocytes. ECP from Aer. hydrophila and Aer. jandaei caused degenerative changes in fish cell lines and were strongly toxic for eels (LD50 1·0–3·2 μg (g fish)‐1) reproducing the symptoms associated with natur…