Quantitative and Qualitative Studies of Aeromonas salmonicida Bacteriophage

Abstract

A comprehensive bacteriophage typing scheme for Aeromonas salmonicida, the causal agent of furunculosis in fish, is described. It distinguishes 27 bacterial groups based on sensitivity patterns to 18 bacteriophage isolates. In addition, the sensitivity patterns are shown to reflect the morphological characteristics of the host bacterium. The ‘rough’,‘smooth’ and ‘G-phase’ forms possess different quantities of lipopolysaccharide in the cell wall and this influences bacteriophage attachment. The problems related to these morphological variations are discussed.