title: Pseudo-membranes on internal organs associated with Rhodococcus qingshengii infection in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
abstract: This paper describes a pathological condition in intensive reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), restricted to the appearance of pseudo-membranes covering internal organs (i.e. spleen, liver, heart and others) associated with the presence of large numbers of a Gram-positive bacteria. Isolate 79043-3, obtained as pure culture from affected fish, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study in order to determine its exact taxonomic position, as well as to experimental challenges leading to determine its pathogenic potential for cultured fish. Based on this characterization, we report the first isolation of Rhodococcus qingshengii, from a farmed population of Atlantic salmon in Chile. Virulence studies demonstrated that the isolate fulfilled the Koch's postulates, suggesting that this bacterial species could be considered as an opportunistic pathogen for Atlantic salmon.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Andrés Bello, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Departamento de Ciencias Básica, Viña del Mar, Chile.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avendaño-Herrera
authors.forename: Sabela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balboa
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doce
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ilardi
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lovera
authors.forename: Alicia E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Toranzo
authors.forename: Jesús L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Romalde
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002677:Chile; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D020317:Salmo salar
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S