S-layer positive motile aeromonads isolated from channel catfish.

Motile aeromonads are ubiquitous aquatic bacteria that can cause motile aeromonad septicemia (MAS), a disease which affects channel catfish and can produce significant economic loss. Motile aeromonads isolated from commercially-raised channel catfish were screened for production of S-layer protein in order to evaluate its potential role in natural epizootics. The S-layer protein was produced by 14 of 24 (58%) isolates from epizootics evaluated in this study. Concomitant infections with other internal pathogens were detected in 10 of the 24 cases used in this study, and only one of those 10 isolates (10%) produced the S-layer protein. When Aeromonas sp. was the only internal pathogen diagnosed, 13 of 14 (93%) isolates produced the S-layer protein.