Disease data

Summary from the online OIE Diagnostic Manual

Piscirickettsiosis is a disease of salmonids caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis that was first reported in farmed coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). The disease was initially described in 1989 from fish in Chile. Piscirickettsia salmonis is a Gram-negative, highly fastidious, intracellular bacterial pathogen of fish. It is distantly related to the genera Coxiella and Francisella and is grouped with the gamma subdivision of the Proteobacteria.

The identification of P. salmonis is based on isolation of the causative agent with subsequent testing for characteristics of this intracellular pathogen. Piscirickettsia salmonis occurs in cytoplasmic vacuoles in the host cell. The organism may be distinguished from Chlamydia as it does not possess the characteristic chlamydial developmental cycle, and does not contain the group-specific lipopolysaccharide chlamydial antigen. The identity is confirmed by means of serological tests or polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) .

For a rapid result, the identity of P. salmonis isolated in cell culture or observed in smears from diseased tissue may be confirmed by means of the fluorescent antibody test or immunohistochemical methods with polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, or by PCR with P.-salmonis -specific primers.

The implementation of hygienic measures and management policy are the only control methods currently available. Antibiotics have been used, but their value is questionable. Intensive efforts are underway by various groups to develop an effective vaccine.

Countries affected

Country	Year	Status	View Records
Canada	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Chile	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Ireland	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Norway	2006	Reported present or known to be present	View Records
United Kingdom	2006	Reported present or known to be present	View Records
United States of America	2006	Serological evidence and/or isolation of causative agent, no clinical disease	View Records

Species affected

Species	Disease occurence	Abstract
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Coho salmon syndrome in Chile.
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Isolation of a rickettsiales-like organism from diseased coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in Chile.
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Oncorhynchus mykiss x Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Piscirickettsiosis in freshwater.
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Salmo salar	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	A Piscirickettsiosis-like disease in farmed Atlantic salmon in Ireland - isolation of the agent.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Septicemia suspected to be caused by a rickettsia-like agent in farmed |Atlantic salmon.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Piscirickettsia salmonis infection in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Norway - epidemiological, pathological and microbiological findings.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Virulence and antigenic characteristics of a cultured Rickettsiales-like organism isolated from farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in eastern Canada.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Observation of a rickettsia-like organism in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Ireland.
Salmonids	Experimental demonstration	Comparative Pan-Genome Analysis of Piscirickettsia salmonis Reveals Genomic Divergences within Genogroups

Countries affected

Country	Year	Status	View Records
Canada	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Chile	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Ireland	2006	Reported present in specific zones	View Records
Norway	2006	Reported present or known to be present	View Records
United Kingdom	2006	Reported present or known to be present	View Records
United States of America	2006	Serological evidence and/or isolation of causative agent, no clinical disease	View Records

Species affected

Species	Disease occurence	Abstract
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Coho salmon syndrome in Chile.
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Isolation of a rickettsiales-like organism from diseased coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in Chile.
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	World Animal Health in 1996. Part 1. Reports on the animal health status and disease control methods.
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Oncorhynchus masou	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Oncorhynchus masou	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Oncorhynchus masou	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	World Animal Health in 1994. Part 1. Reports on the animal health status and disease control methods.
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	World Animal Health in 1995. Part 1. Reports on the animal health status and disease control methods.
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	World Animal Health in 1996. Part 1. Reports on the animal health status and disease control methods.
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Oncorhynchus mykiss	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Oncorhynchus mykiss x Oncorhynchus kisutch	Natural occurrence	Piscirickettsiosis in freshwater.
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Salmo salar	Experimental demonstration	The isolation of a rickettsia-like organism causing disease and mortality in Chilean salmonids and its confirmation by Koch's psotulate.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	A Piscirickettsiosis-like disease in farmed Atlantic salmon in Ireland - isolation of the agent.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Septicemia suspected to be caused by a rickettsia-like agent in farmed |Atlantic salmon.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Piscirickettsia salmonis infection in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Norway - epidemiological, pathological and microbiological findings.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Virulence and antigenic characteristics of a cultured Rickettsiales-like organism isolated from farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in eastern Canada.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	Observation of a rickettsia-like organism in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Ireland.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (3rd edition).
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	World Animal Health in 1996. Part 1. Reports on the animal health status and disease control methods.
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases 2003 (4th edition).
Salmo salar	Natural occurrence	OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (5th edition, 2006).
Salmonids	Experimental demonstration	Comparative Pan-Genome Analysis of Piscirickettsia salmonis Reveals Genomic Divergences within Genogroups