A study of the pathological effect of isolated Aeromonas salmonidda extracellular protease on Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Abstract. A comparison was made between the effects of Aeromonas salmonidda extracellular protease and total extracellular products (ECP) following intramuscular injection into juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Thus, 20, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1.5 units of salt-free protease in 0.2 ml water were compared with ECP preparations with the same levels of proteolytic activity. The highest concentration of ECP produced a gross pathology with a large furuncular lesion 36 h after injection. The corresponding protease preparation had a lesser effect, although a furuncle was formed and tissue liquefaction was produced. These effects were less marked with reduced concentrations. At the lowest level studied, no significant effect was observed with protease alone but ECP (0.8 μg of protein) produced a small, characteristic lesion similar to that achieved with 5 units of isolated protease.