Health status of salmonids in river systems in Natal. III. Isolation and identification of bacteria.

Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria were isolated from fish, both salmonid and non-salmonid, from selected river systems in Natal. Pasteurella pisicida was isolated for the first time from fish in South Africa. The isolation of Yersinia ruckeri, Aeromonas salmonicida, and Edwardsiella tarda were recorded for the first time from fish in Natal. A. hydrophila and Flexibacter columnaris were found to be widespread throughout the river systems in Natal. The Streptococcus species which caused serious disease problems in trout in the Cape Province and Transvaal was not isolated from any of the fish examined in Natal.