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Damaging effect of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida on intestinal enterocytes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Cell and Tissue Research volume 318, pages 305–311 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

In fish, bacterial pathogens can enter the host by one or more of three different routes: (a) skin, (b) gills and (c) gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria can cross the gastrointestinal lining in three different ways. In undamaged tissue, bacteria can translocate by transcellular or paracellular routes. Alternatively, bacteria can damage the intestinal lining with extracellular enzymes or toxins before entering. Using an in vitro (Ussing chamber) model, this paper describes intestinal cell damage in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) caused by the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida, the causative agent of furunculosis. The in vitro method clearly demonstrated substantial detachment of enterocytes from anterior region of the intestine (foregut) upon exposure to the pathogen. In the hindgut (posterior part of the intestine), little detachment was observed but cellular damage involved microvilli, desmosomes and tight junctions. Based on these findings, we suggest that A. salmonicida may obtain entry to the fish by seriously damaging the intestinal lining. Translocation of bacteria through the foregut (rather than the hindgut) is a more likely infection route for A. salmonicida infections in Atlantic salmon.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, 9292, Tromsø, Norway

    Einar Ringø & Yvonne Bakken

  2. Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway

    Einar Ringø & Johan Glette

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Fredrik Jutfelt & Kristina Sundell

  4. Department of Electron Microscopy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Premasany Kanapathippillai

  5. Department of Marine Biotechnology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Yvonne Bakken

  6. School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

    Terry M. Mayhew

  7. Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Reidar Myklebust

  8. Institute of Marine Research, Matre Aquaculture Research Station, Matredal, Norway

    Rolf Erik Olsen

Authors
  1. Einar Ringø
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  2. Fredrik Jutfelt
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  3. Premasany Kanapathippillai
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  4. Yvonne Bakken
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  5. Kristina Sundell
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  6. Johan Glette
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  7. Terry M. Mayhew
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  8. Reidar Myklebust
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  9. Rolf Erik Olsen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Einar Ringø.

Additional information

Financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, quality of Life and Management of Living Resources programme, project Q5RT-2000-31656 “Gastrointestinal Functions and Food Intake Regulation in Salmonids: Impact of Dietary vegetable Lipids” (GUTINTEGRITY) and from Magnus Bergvalls Stiftelse for KS, is acknowledged.

This work does not represent the opinion of the European Community, which is thus not responsible for any use of the data presented.

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Ringø, E., Jutfelt, F., Kanapathippillai, P. et al. Damaging effect of the fish pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida on intestinal enterocytes of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Cell Tissue Res 318, 305–311 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-004-0934-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-004-0934-2

Keywords

  • Ussing chamber
  • Fish digestive tract
  • Aeromonas
  • Cell damage
  • Electron microscopy
  • Salmo salar (Teleostei)