Abstract |
The Quantum II was originally designed by Abbott Diagnostics for automated rapid identification of members of Enterobacteriaceae. The study was initiated to determine the feasibility of expanding its use to include identification of bacterial fish pathogens. Ten to fifty isolates of Edwardsiella ictaluri, Serratia liquefaciens, Yersinia rukert, Aeromonas hydrophila, typical Aeromonas salmoncida, and atypical Aeromonas salmoncida were utilized to determine optimal incubation conditions, relative stability of the biochemicals, and ability to obtain consistent biocide numbers. After sorting the octal biocides from the 169 isolates into groupings using a cluster analysis technique, it was shown by a Chi-square goodness of fit test that isolates of a given species were sorted into the same cluster group at a frequency of at least 99%. Results of the study illustrate the usefulness of the Quantum II BID system for the identification of bacterial fish pathogens not contained in the system's memory module. (Copyright (c) Wildlife Disease Association 1989.) |