Serum agglutinating titres against <i>Renibacterium salmoninarum</i> the causative agent of bacterial kidney disease, in rainbow trout, <i>Salmo gairdneri</i> Richardson, and Atlantic salmon, <i>Salmo salar</i> L.

Abstract

Serum agglutinating titres against Renibacterium salmoninarum were determined from clinically infected, sub‐clinically infected and non‐infected rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, and Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Titres ≥16 occurred in clinically infected rainbow trout, but declined after a few months when disease signs were absent. Non‐infected rainbow trout had titres ≤ 16. No correlation between the agglutinating titre and the level of infection was found in farmed Atlantic salmon. Variable titres were found in wild salmon broodstock although there was no evidence of BKD during 4 years of testing.