Identification and Characterization of Elizabethkingia in farmed American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana)

Pathogenic bacteria isolated from the tissues (brain, liver, spleen and kidney) of infected American bullfrogs Moribund bullfrogs from affected farms were dissected using aseptic techniques. Tissue samples were taken from the brain, liver, kidney, and spleen. The tissues were used to inoculate a 5% sheep blood medium (Degerm, China) to culture the bacterium 18 hours at 28 degrees Celsius for isolation and purification. The resulting single colonies were subcultured on the same medium to check the purity of the isolated strain.