Enteric red mouth disease in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on the Black Sea coast of Turkey

Abstract

Although Yersinia ruckeri, the etiological agent of the enteric red mouth disease (ERM), has been isolated from freshwater fish in several countries, there are few reports of its presence in cultured sea and brackish water fish. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify the etiological agent of disease outbreaks that occurred in rainbow trout cage farms on the Black Sea coast of Turkey in 2002. Clinical observation, biochemical, API 20 NE, and agglutination tests allowed the diagnosis of ERM caused by Y. ruckeri, which was successfully treated with medicated feed (oxytetracycline at 75 mg per kg body weight per day for 10 days).