• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1997

Major object of this study was to investigate the causative organism of th e diseased cultured fingerling of sea bass, L japonicus. The experimental results are summarized as follows ; Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from the liver, kidney, spleen and brain, was considered to be the causative organism. External symptoms of this disease were congestion and hemorrhages in eyes. Anatomical symptoms were hemorrhage of brain, congestion of liver, and slight swelling of kidney and spleen. Growth of the isolates was good on BHIA, HIA and Staphylococcus No. 110. The growth occurred at a range(optimum) of $10\sim45^{\circ}C(35\sim40^{\circ}C)$, 0~9% (1~3%) of NaCl concentration and pH 4~10(8). DNase and coagulase production of all isolated strains were nagative, but was positive in hemolysis. Urease was positive reaction, and novobiocin resistance was nagative. Acid was produced anaerobically from glucose and maltose. Acid was produced aerobically from glucose, galactose, sucrose, maltose and dextrine. But gas was not produced from any carbohydrates. When the isolated strain was injected intramuscularly on fingerling of sea bass, L japonicus, it had virulence at $1.7{\times}10^{10}$ viable cells/$m\ell$ for all fish examined but no virulence at $1.7{\times}10^4$ viable cells/$m\ell$. Bacitracin, Erythromycin and Nofloxacin were observed as bacteriostatic agents to the strain, but Colistin, Gentamicin and Nalidixic acid were not. There were remarkable congestion of the brain, regressive necrosis of the liver, and showed necrosis of the epithelial cells of renal tubules in kidney tissues.