Bacterial infections of certain lower vertebrates: with particular reference to "furunculosis of the salmonidae"

Abstract

The summary and conclusions referable to the study of Furunculosis are given - Page 53.Bacterial infection of certain lower vertebrates may be produced by specific organisms which have been found only in association with cert:ain conditions of disease, e.g., Bacillus sonicida, Furunculosis among the Salmonidae.Organisms naturally saprophytic may, under certain conditions, become pathogenic. These organisms comprise some types frequently found in water, such as, Bacillus fluorescens and certain Gram-negative, non- sporing, non-chromogenic bacilli.A vibrio, with general biological characters similar to those of vibrios which have been described in water and in diseases of fish, was isolated from heart blood of a salmon. This organism proved highly pathogenic for trout.Bacterial disease of fish and frogs usually takes the form of a general infection. Focal lesions may or may not be found. In Furunculosis, infection may be both focal and general.Bacterial disease of these cold-blooded animals frequently appears in epizootic form, e.g., "Red -leg" of frogs; Furunculosis of the Salmonidae. Occurrence of such epizootics requires further study,Secondary infections, including ante-mortem infection, are of common occurrence among fish and frogs, when the resistance of the animals has been lowered by primary infection or injury. Other adverse conditions probably also predispose to such infections. This requires further investigation.Little or no tissue reaction against invading bacteria has been observed in frogs or fish, analogous to such reaction in mammalian animals.A certain degree of phagocytic activity is displayed in some cases of bacterial infection of frogs and fish.Sources and modes of infection of lower vertebrates generally, require further study.