The role of the lethal extracellular cytolysin of Aeromonas salmonicida in the pathology of furunculosis

Abstract. The histopathological effects of intramuscular (i.m.) and intraperitoneal injections of the purified lethal cytolytic toxin of A. salmonicida in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were restricted to extensive degranulation of eosinophilic granular cells (EGCs) in the gills (both routes) and a limited coagulative necrosis of muscle fibres at the site of i.m. injection. The severity of these lesions did not apparently differ amongst fish that were moribund within 48 h and the surviving fish at 90 h. Previous studies indicate a maximum time to death caused by this toxin of 48 h. Thus, it is difficult to account for death of the fish from the toxin solely on the grounds of the histopathological features. It is suggested that a complex metabolic dysfunction results in death. The mechanism of 'furuncle' formation was demonstrated to result from a combined effect of the cytolysin and the purified 70-kDa protease present in the ECP. When i.m.-injected singly, the purified cytolysin produced a limited coagulative necrosis and the purified protease produced a limited liquefaction and haemorrhaging. In combination, they induced the extensive liquefactive haemorrhagic 'furuncle' characteristic of the whole ECP.     

Cellular responses of leucocytes isolated from the gut of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Abstract. Leucocytes were isolated from the gut of rainbow trout by collagcnase digestion. They were shown to be capable of producing a chemoattractant(s) for head kidney leucocytes and a macrophagc activating factor, following stimulation with calcium ionophore and T-cell mitogens, respectively. They also included low but significant numbers of phagocytes, as determined by phagocytosis of fluorescent latex microspheres and oxygen free radical production. However, migration of isolated gut cells in response to head kidney chemo-attractants was lacking. The significance of these results in relation to mucosal immunity is discussed.     

Utilization of haem compounds by Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. The ability of A-layer-positi ve (A⁺) and A-layer-negative (A⁻) strains of Aeromonas salmonicida to utilize haem sources of iron under conditions of iron-restriction was evaluated. In a plate bioassay, only A⁺ strains of A. salmonicida were able to utilize haem from a variety of sources including haem, haemin, myoglobin, haemoglobin, haemoglobin- haptoglobin and haem-albumin complexes. Trypsin-digestion of whole cells abolished haem- binding, indicating that binding was cell-surface associated, involving a protein binding site or receptor. Competitive binding studies indicated that all haem compounds were bound by a common receptor, which was not iron-regulated and was associated with the presence of the 49-kDa A-layer protein. The ability of both typical A⁺ (siderophore-positive) and atypical A⁺ (siderophore-negative) strains to utilize haem indicated that the mechanism of haem utilization was not siderophore-mediated and that A. salmonicida possesses both siderophore-dependent and siderophore-independent mechanisms to overcome iron-restricted conditions encountered in vivo.     

A systemic fungal disease in Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L., caused by a species of Phialophora

Abstract. A fungal infection of Atlantic salmon parr (0 +) occurring at low water temperatures, principally in January, is reported from fish farm hatcheries in western Scotland. Clinical signs and histopathology of the disease are described, illustrated, discussed and compared with those of certain other fungal diseases of salmonids. The fungus, provisionally placed in the hyphomycete genus Phialophora is described and illustrated from pure culture, with a discussion of its taxonomic position.     

The role of Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products in the pathology of furunculosis

Abstract. The extracellular products (ECP) of Aeromonas salmonicida , prepared by the cellophane overlay method, are lethal to rainbow trout when administered parenterally. Sublethal doses when injected i.p. or i.m. are shown to reproduce all the lesions that have been described in the literature as being associated with furunculosis. In addition, meningitis may be an important feature of furunculosi s and is reproduced by injection of ECP. A serum factor, probably an α-globulin, present in normal serum of rainbow trout, is capable of neutralizing the toxic effects of ECP. The pathology is discussed with reference to the proteolytic and leucocidal properties of the ECP and its effects upon the eosinophilic granular cells which are caused to disperse and degranulate with the possible release of histamine.     

AN INVESTIGATION OF WEATHERING IN SOME ARCTIC-ALPINE SOILS ON THE NORTHEAST FLANK OF OKSSKOLTEN,NORTH NORWAY1

Morphological, particle size and mineralogical analyses of three soils indicate that the degree of weathering during pedogenesis has been of a low order. Textural characteristics and mineral content variations arc attributed largely to inheritance from the till parent material, rather than to pedological processes. These observations suggest that frost action as a soil weathering process in this particular environment is minimal. Hydration and dissolution by chelation are discussed as possible alternative mechanisms, but their operation is probably impaired by restricted water availability resulting from the extensive duration of seasonally frozen ground conditions.