Evaluation of four methods to establish asymptomatic carriers of Aeromonas salmonicida in juvenile spring chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

Abstract. This study evaluated four methods to establish asymptomatic carriers of Aeromonas salmonicida. Exposure of chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), to A. salmonicida by gastric intubation resulted in a carrier prevalence of 65%. This prevalence was significantly higher than prevalences of 40, 20 and 10% after exposure respectively to broth culture bath, ingestion of broth coated feed, and exposure to intraperitoneally infected fish.