A comparative study of susceptibility and induced pathology of cod, Gadus morhua (L.), and halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus (L.), following experimental infection with Moritella viscosa.

In this study experimental challenges with Moritella viscosa, the causative agent of winter ulcers in salmonids, were performed on juvenile Atlantic cod and Atlantic halibut. The challenges involved both intramuscular (i.m.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections and bath with a strain originally isolated from Atlantic salmon. Cod was found to be significantly more sensitive than halibut to the infection. Both fish species were found to be more sensitive to i.m. than i.p. challenges. Both challenges induced a systemic disease in cod and halibut, but only cod was infected with an experimental bath challenge. Pathognomonic signs were found to be comparable with those described in M. viscosa-infected salmon and turbot. The main distinguishing pathological sign was that the cod showed host response to M. viscosa infection resulting in granuloma formation in infected tissues, which is a known response of cod to a infection with another Gram-negative bacterium, Aeromonas salmonicida. Re-isolation of M. viscosa from kidneys of cod and halibut with clear disease signs was problematic and optimization of isolation measures is needed. The results of this study indicate that M. viscosa infection may be a risk factor in cod farming, but that halibut is more resistant.