Diseases of nsh Bacterial diseasesFurunculosis (infection with

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Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida)

Signs of disease
Important: animals with disease may show one or more of the signs below, but disease may still be present in the absence of any signs.

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Disease signs at the farm level

high mortality

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Disease signs at the tank and pond level

lethargy cessation of feeding swimming just below surface respiratory distress and random jumping from water immediately before an outbreak

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Clinical signs of disease in an infected animal

furuncles (or boils) causing deep abscesses, usually in adult salmon in the acute phase ofinfection haemorrhages on skin, mouth and fin bases (mainly paired fins) darkening of body colour exophthalmus (pop eye)

Furunculosis in Atlantic salmon. Note large furuncle (boil) on side of sh.

Source: T Hstein

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Gross signs of disease in an infected animal

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haemorrhages in muscle and internal organs enlarged spleen and focal necrosis of the liver stomach filled with mucus, blood and sloughed epithelial cells congested intestine fusion of gill lamellae While classical furunculosis (as described above) occurs in both juvenile and adult salmon, peracute infections in juvenile salmon can result in death without the fish showing any clinical signs other than darkening of the skin.
Furunculosis in Atlantic salmon. Note furuncle cut away to show underlying necrotic tissue.
Source: T Hstein

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Sourced from AGDAFF (2008) Aquatic Animal Diseases Signicant to Australia: Identication Field Guide.Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Canberra. Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

Furunculosis (infection with Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida) continued

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Disease agent
Furunculosis is caused by the bacterium Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida.

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Host range
Fish known to be susceptible to furunculosis: Atlantic salmon* brook trout* brown trout* rainbow trout* bullhead cod halibut minnows pike salmonids (all) sea bream turbot wrasse (Salmo salar) (Salvelinus fontinalis) (Salmo trutta) (Oncorhynchus mykiss) (Cottos gobio) (Gadus morhua) (Hippoglossus stenolepis) (Galaxiidae) (Esox lucius) (Salmonidae) (Sparus aurata) (Psetta maxima) (Labridae)

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All salmonids are believed to be susceptible.

Presence in Australia

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The strain of Aeromonas causing furunculosis in salmonids overseas (i.e. the typical strain) is not present in Australia. However, atypical strains are present (see Infection with Aeromonas salmonicidaatypical strains).

Epidemiology

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Furunculosis is highly contagious. The disease is considered by some to be the most commercially significant of all salmonid diseases. It occurs in freshwater and marine salmonid aquaculture worldwide, except in Australia and NewZealand. Overseas, this disease must be controlled on farms by medication or vaccination. Outbreaks would be expected to occur at temperatures above 10C and may be precipitated by stress. Australias relatively warm water temperatures may favour the establishment of A.salmonicida. Rainbow trout are relatively resistant to the disease, but still considered susceptible.
* naturally susceptible (other species have been shown to be experimentally susceptible)

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Sourced from AGDAFF (2008) Aquatic Animal Diseases Signicant to Australia: Identication Field Guide.Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Canberra. Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale.

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Furunculosis (infection with Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida) continued

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Transmission is via the water (mouth, gills and skin). Ingestion of tissue from infected salmonids can transmit infection to nonsalmonids nearby. Similarly, transmission to nonsalmonids can occur where fish used to feed these populations are taken from waters near an outbreak. Susceptibility to the disease increases with damaged mucus and skin, such as occurs when fish are handled with nets. Fish surviving disease outbreaks are recognised as carriers of the disease and may continue to infect the remaining population without themselves showing any outward signs of infection.

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Differential diagnosis
The differential diagnostic table and the list of similar diseases appearing at the bottom of each disease page refer only to the diseases covered by this field guide. Gross signs observed might well be representative of a wider range of diseases not included here. Therefore, these diagnostic aids should not be read as a guide to a definitive diagnosis, but rather as a tool to help identify the listed diseases that most closely account for the gross signs.

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Similar diseases
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia, infection with Aeromonas salmonicidaatypical strains.

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Sample collection
Because of uncertainty in differentiating diseases using only gross signs, and because some aquatic animal disease agents might pose a risk to humans, you should not try to collect samples unless you have been trained. Instead, you should phone your state or territory hotline number and report your observations. If samples have to be collected, the agency taking the call will advise you on what you need to do. Local or district fisheries/veterinary authorities could advise you on sampling.

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Emergency disease hotline

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For your state or territory emergency disease hotline number, see Whom to contact if you suspect a disease.

Further reading
www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/aquatic/aquavetplan/furunculosis This hyperlink was correct and functioning at the time of publication.

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Sourced from AGDAFF (2008) Aquatic Animal Diseases Signicant to Australia: Identication Field Guide.Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Canberra. Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale.

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