Practical aspects of bacterial culture for the diagnosis of bacterial kidney disease (BKD)

• Published in: Diseases of aquatic organisms Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 207 - 212
• Main Authors: OLSEN, A. B, HOPP, P, BINDE, M, GRØNSTØL, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oldendorf Inter-Research 1992
• Subjects: Animal bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Freshwater; Infectious diseases; Marine; Medical sciences; Renibacterium salmoninarum; Salmo salar; Infection; Culture medium; Cell culture; Vertebrata; Pisces; Salmo salar; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Renal disease; Diagnosis; Method; Renibacterium salmoninarum
• ISSN: 0177-5103; 1616-1580
• DOI: 10.3354/dao014207

A study was made of practical aspects of culture of Renibacterium salmoninarum (R.s.) from the kidney of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar . Samples were taken from fish in sea farms affected by outbreaks of bacterial kidney disease (BKD). Only 67% of the samples positive for growth of R.s. on kidney disease medium (KDM2) were positive on selective kidney disease medium (SKDM). Of the samples positive on KDM2, 98% were identified as positive after 8 wk of incubation at 15 degree C, whereas only 82% of the samples positive on SKDM were positive at this time. Growth of R.s. on KDM2 produced more colonies than growth on SKDM. No significant differences in isolation frequency were seen between culture from anterior and posterior kidney. If 3 or 4 inoculations were made from each fish, the number of R.s.-positive fish increased by 44% in the lightly infected population of this study. Both storage of the sample material on swabs in 2 different modifications of Stuart's transport medium for 24 h, and freezing at -20 degree C for 3 to 4 mo, reduced the sensitivity of culture from lightly infected samples.