Histopathologic changes of a virus-like disease of sockeye salmon

Abstract

Rucker et al., (1953) described a disease of sockeye salmon ( O ncorhynchus nerka ) of possible viral etiology. First seen in Washington in 1951 with relatively minor losses, the disease recurred in 1952 killing over two million fingerling salmon with a mortality rate of 91.5 percent (Watson, 1954). In 1953, the disease was present in every sockeye salmon hatchery in the state. Rucker, Watson and their associates have demonstrated that the disease is infectious, caused by a serially-transmissible and filterable agent, and specific for one species of fish. Watson et al., (1956) have described the hematology of infected salmon. The present paper deals with the histopathology of the disease.