Executive summary

Forty-two strains of ‘Bacterium salmonicida ’, six o i a non-pigmented fish pathogen and forty-two Aeromonas strains were compared morpho-logically, culturally, biochemically and metabolically. The results, which were computed electronically, showed a distinct difference between ‘ B. salmonicida ’ and the Aeromonas species. On the grounds of this varia-tion in morphology, culture and biochemistry, it is suggested that ‘B. salmonicida ’ be removed from the genus Aeromonas and given a generic place in the family Pseudomonadaceae. The name Necromonas salmonicida is suggested as an alternative to ‘B. salmonicida’