CHARACTERIZATION OF A PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS WALBAUM, 1792) FRIES IN A HATCHERY IN AZROU CITY (MOROCCO): PHENOTYPIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES

Abstract

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is an important pathogen of freshwater fish, implicated in skin and internal organs disease, often causing high mortality. The results of phenotypic and biochemical analysis showed that There is a great phenotypic heterogeneity between the isolated strains. These variations are found in colony’s morphology, pattern of biochemical reactions and variability in enzyme production analysis. In Morocco, many outbreaks of skin disease in fish that resemble to cold water disease have been observed. The main fish species involved is the Rainbow trout and Coho Salmon, with high mortality rates in fry production units (hatcheries). The aim of this study is to report the isolation and characterization of Moroccan strains of F.psychrophilum, from juveniles compared with other countries strains.

Keywords

• Flavobacterium psychrophilum
• rainbow trout
• characterization
• fish disease
• isolation