AEROMONAS-HYDROPHILA SEPTICEMIA IN A GREY SEAL (HALICHOERUS-GRYPUS) FROM THE BALTIC SEA - A CASE-STUDY

Aeromonas hydrophila septicaemia in a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) f rom the Swedish part of the Baltic Sea is reported. The pathogen was i solated from both lung and spleen specimens. All of the A. hydrophila isolates produced haemolysin and Vero active cytotoxin. The aerolysin gene was found in all tested isolates as evidenced by the polymerase c hain reaction (PCR) technique. Also, all isolates tested showed identi cal patterns of biochemical and antibiotic resistance. As Aeromonas sp p. commonly occur in aquatic environments, we suggest that organisms f rom this genus may also Flay an important role as opportunistic pathog ens in morbillivirus infected seals. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.