Bacterial kidney disease (Renibacterium salmoninarum)

Authors: Wiens, Gregory - Greg

Submitted to: Fish Diseases and Disorders
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/4/2009
Publication Date: 3/1/2011
Citation: Wiens, G.D. 2011. Bacterial kidney disease (Renibacterium salmoninarum). Fish Diseases and Disorders. 3:338-374.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Bacterial kidney disease (BKD), caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum, is a prevalent disease of salmonid fish that impacts sustainable production for consumption and species conservation efforts. The disease is chronic in nature and mortality most often occurs in juvenile salmonids and prespawning adults. The microorganism is unusual as it can be transmitted from an adult female to the fry via infected eggs. Research on R. salmoninarum has been impeded, in part, due to technical difficulties of working with this slow growing and fastidious microorganism. This book chapter reviews the current state of knowledge of the microorganism including the distribution, host range, economic importance, diagnostic methods, pathogenesis and immunity, and control methods. I also review recent findings from the genome sequence of strain ATCC 33209, which provided insight into the evolution, genetic structure, and metabolism of this microorganism.