EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM ALUMINUM SULFATE (ALUM) USED IN AN AEROMONAS-SALMONICIDA BACTERIN ON ATLANTIC SALMON, SALMO-SALAR L

Potassium aluminium sulphate (alum) was tested for use as an adjuvant in an Aeromonas salmonicida bacterin injected into Atlantic salmon, Sa lmo salar L. Potential side-effects of visceral adhesions, diminished growth and toxicity, as well as adjuvant effects, were examined. Both alum and the bacterin alone induced inflammation and adhesion formatio n when injected into the peritoneal cavity. When bacterin;and alum wer e combined, these effects were compounded. Growth was not affected by any of the injected treatments. The acute toxicity of the bacterin was reduced from 33.7 to 0.3% mortality by the addition of alum. Alum app eared to enhance protection against challenge, but there were no stati stically significant differences in protection between injecting bacte rin alone or injecting bacterin with alum.