Pathogenicity of Mexican isolates of Aeromonas sp. in immersion experimentally-infected rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792).

Ten species of Aeromonas have been previously identified in farmed rainbow trout from Mexico. The aim of the current study was to investigate the pathogenicity of 10 Aeromonas isolates belonging to 10 different Aeromonas species in immersion experimentally-infected rainbow trout fry. Isolates of A. bestiarum, A. hydrophila, A. salmonicida, and A. veronii produced significant mortality (8.8%, 12.2%, 18.8%, and 8.8%, respectively). Isolates of A. caviae and A. sobria produced no significantly mortality (3.3% and 1.1%, respectively). No mortality was recorded in fish infected with A. allosaccharophila, A. lusitana, A. media, or A. popoffii. Microscopic lesions and bacterial reisolation were registered in liver of fish infected with the ten different Aeromonas isolates. Our results suggest that all Aeromonas species included in the study have the ability to colonize the liver. The results have confirmed that species A. bestiarum, A. hydrophila, A. salmonicida, and A. veronii affected fish as elsewhere reported. In conclusion, the variation in pathogenicity of Aeromonas isolates included in the study, emphasizes the importance of active, on-going monitoring of Aeromonas in the Mexican rainbow trout farming.