Systemic disease in turbot Scophthalmus maximus caused by a previously unrecognised Cytophaga like bacterium

Abstract

A new group of Cytophaga-like bacteria has been recovered from healthy and diseased turbot in Scotland. Cultures produced orange colonies and contained short rods with distinctively thick cell walls. Gliding movement was observed and the guanine plus cytosine ratio of the DNA was 31.7 to 32.1 mols %. The organism caused gill hyperplasia and systemic haemorrhagic septicaemia in both naturally diseased and experimentally infected tubot. Control of the disease was possible by administering an injection or bath of furazolidone.