Renibacterium Salmoninarum

Renibacterium Salmoninarum Background

This disease is present in North America, UK, Continental Europe, Japan, Chile and Scandinavia. It can be spread horizontally via shared water and vertically. Horizontal transmission is likely the result of ingestion of faecal materials from clinical infected and/or carrier fish. Vertical transmission via the egg makes is unusual for a bacterial pathogen. Most outbreaks have occurred in fish culture facilities. As the bacteria are often enzootic in wild populations and waterborne, transmission to captive fish is often a concern. Salmonids of the Onchorhynchus, Salmo and Salvelinus genera appear to be the primary hosts although many other species can acquire natural infections. The organism is highly adapted to both infectivity and persistence in these hosts. Its intracellular nature provides it with both a nutrient source and method of evasion from the host immune response. Pacific salmon species are the most susceptible with losses as high as 80% recorded, while Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout are thought to be more resistant.

References

• Evelyn, T. P. T (1993) Bacterial kidney disease – BKD. In: Inglis, V., Roberts, R. J., Bromage, N.R. eds. Bacterial Diseases of Fish. New York, USA: Halsted Press, 177-195.