양식 농어 치어에 발생하는 포도상구균증의 원인균에 대한 생화학적 성상, 생물학적 성상, 약제 감수성 및 병원성을 검토하였다. 병어의 간, 신장, 비장 및 뇌로부터 원인균을 분리하였으며, 생물학적 생화학적 성상을 조사한 결과 본 균을 Staphylococcus epidermidis로 동정하였다. S. epidermidis에 감염된 농어 치어의 외부 소견은 안구 충혈 및 백탁이 주증상이었고, 해부학적 소견은 뇌출혈, 간울혈, 신장 및 비장의 팽대가 특징적였다. 분리균주는 BHIA, HIA 및 Staphylococcus No. 110에서 잘 발육하였으며, 식염 농도 0~9% (최적 염분 : 1~3%), $10sim45^{circ}C$(최적 온도 ; $35sim40^{circ}C$) 및 pH 4~10(최적 pH : 8)에서 발육하였다. DNase, coagulase에는 모든 균주가 음성였으며, 용혈성은 양성을 나타내었고, urease 양성, novobiocin 저항성에는 음성을 나타내었다. 모든 균주는 탄수화물 분해시 가스를 생성하지 않았고 혐기적 조건하에서 포도당과 maltose를 분해했다. 호기적 조건하에서 모든 균주는 포도당, galactose, sucrose, maltose 및 dextrin을 분해하였다. $1.7{ imes}10^{10}$ viable cells/$mell$를 근육 주사한 실험구에서는 모든 접종어에 강한 병원성을 나타내었으나, $1.7{ imes}10^4$ viable cells/$mell$를 접종한 실험구에서는 약한 병원성이 나타났다. 분리균은 bacitracin, erythromycin, norfloxacin 등에 감수성을 나타냈으나, colistin, gentamicin, nalidixic acid 등에는 내성을 나타냈다. 병어의 병리조직학적 관찰 결과 뇌의 소상 울혈, 간 실질세포의 퇴행성 병변 및 신장 조직에서 뇨세관 상피세포의 분리와 괴사가 나타났다.
Major object of this study was to investigate the causative organism of th e diseased cultured fingerling of sea bass, L japonicus. The experimental results are summarized as follows ; Staphylococcus epidermidis, isolated from the liver, kidney, spleen and brain, was considered to be the causative organism. External symptoms of this disease were congestion and hemorrhages in eyes. Anatomical symptoms were hemorrhage of brain, congestion of liver, and slight swelling of kidney and spleen. Growth of the isolates was good on BHIA, HIA and Staphylococcus No. 110. The growth occurred at a range(optimum) of $10sim45^{circ}C(35sim40^{circ}C)$, 0~9% (1~3%) of NaCl concentration and pH 4~10(8). DNase and coagulase production of all isolated strains were nagative, but was positive in hemolysis. Urease was positive reaction, and novobiocin resistance was nagative. Acid was produced anaerobically from glucose and maltose. Acid was produced aerobically from glucose, galactose, sucrose, maltose and dextrine. But gas was not produced from any carbohydrates. When the isolated strain was injected intramuscularly on fingerling of sea bass, L japonicus, it had virulence at $1.7{ imes}10^{10}$ viable cells/$mell$ for all fish examined but no virulence at $1.7{ imes}10^4$ viable cells/$mell$. Bacitracin, Erythromycin and Nofloxacin were observed as bacteriostatic agents to the strain, but Colistin, Gentamicin and Nalidixic acid were not. There were remarkable congestion of the brain, regressive necrosis of the liver, and showed necrosis of the epithelial cells of renal tubules in kidney tissues.
