PSEUDOMONAS-ANGUILLISEPTICA ISOLATED FROM BALTIC HERRING CLUPEA-HARENGUS-MEMBRAS WITH EYE LESIONS

Strains of Pseudomonas anguilliseptica were isolated from Baltic herri ng Clupea harengus membras L. caught on the southwest coast of Finland and showing hemorrhages in the eyes. When compared to the type strain of P. anguilliseptica (NCMB 1949), the strains examined showed only m inor biochemical differences. The strains isolated from Baltic herring were of low pathogenicity to rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. This is the first isolation of P. anguilliseptica from wild fish, and the p ossibility of the wild fish serving as a vector of this pathogen for f armed salmonids is discussed.