Use of non-lethal procedures to detect and monitor Aeromonas salmonicida in potentially endangered or threatened populations of migrating and post-spawning salmon

Non-lethal assay of mucus was assessed for detection of Aeromonas salmonicida among feral populations of salmon returning to the Salmon River (Altmar, NY, USA). A. salmonicida was isolated from returns of 2 year classes of coho Oncorhynchus kisutch and chinook O. tshawytscha salmon. Data suggested that non-lethal assay of mucus was comparable to standard lethal procedures used to detect and isolate A. salmonicida from kidney tissues. Non-lethal procedures were also used to detect A, salmonicida and monitor the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy for the control of furunculosis among valuable Atlantic salmon Salmo salar broodstock maintained at the Richard Cronin National Salmon Station (Sunderland, MA, USA).