The identification and separation of Aeromonas liquefaciens from Pseudomonas fluorescens and related organisms occurring in diseased fish.

Taxonomy of the motile species of the genus Aeromonas is briefly discussed. It is suggested that Aeromonas organisms, isolated from outbreaks of red mouth of trout, red sore of pike, infectious abdominal dropsy and hemorrhagic septicemia of warm water fish, and which show acid and gas in glucose broth, production of 2,3-butanediol hydrogen sulfide from motility sulfide medium, presence of cytochrome oxidase, and hydrolysis of starch, be designated as Aeromonas liquefaciens. These tests also serve to differentiate A. liquefaciens from fish-pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens and from enteric bacteria.