Carp erythrodermatitis (CE) due to an Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Casuistic and experimental results

In November 1987 high losses of carp (Cyprinus carpio) with the main symptom of skin ulcera were observed in a farm in northern Greece. Sixty-six isolates of bacteria, characterized mainly as Aeromonas hydrophila or Pseudomonas spp. could be isolated from lesions of diseased fish. Transmission experiments with these isolates using mirror carp showed that Aeromonas hydrophila strains induced identical clinical and pathological pictures after intra- or subcutaneous injection. Extracts of these Aeromonas hydrophila isolates, as well as a supernatant of culture bouillon were toxic for carp and mice, indicating the presence of endo- and exotoxins. The results prove that carp erythrodermatitis (CE) may be caused by different bacteria, mainly including A. hydrophila.