L. W. Hinck

Influence Of Ammonia On Aeromonad Susceptibility In Channel Catfish

The effects of unionized ammonia on Channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus) resistance to aeromonad invasion were tested. Host susceptibility to Aeromonas hydrophila was related to ammonia concentration and time of exposure. Numbers of bacteria recovered from host livers increased as concentrations of un-ionized ammonia were increased in the range of 0.02-0.04 mgj I NH,. The effect of longer exposure time at these concentrations also proved to be significant (P <0.0 I) in lowering host resistance.