틸라피아에 실험적으로 Edwardsiella tarda를 경구감염 시켰다. 틸라피아의 장을 자극시키지 않았을 때는 E. tarda가 감염되지 않았으나 과산화수소로 장을 자극시킨후 E. tarda를 투여하였더니 감염되었다. 150~200g되는 틸라피아 한마리에 $10^6CFU/m{ell}$, $10^7CFU/m{ell}$, $10^8CFU/m{ell}$를 투여한 4일 후부터 죽은 실험어의 간장, 신장, 비장에 농창이 형성되었다. 또한 장관 장해부에서 세균이 증식되어 전신감염으로 급히 발병되어 죽은 예가 많았다. 자연감염어에서 볼 수 있는 증상이 나타났다.
Experimental infection method for Edwardsiellosis was studied to imitate histopathologically natural infections in the Tilapia Oreochrimis niloticus. Prior to the bacterial challenge, the intestine of tilapia was damaged by 0.2ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide introduced through a silicon tube which was inserted 4 to 5cm into the intestine from anus. E. tarda was mixed a 10% Gum arabia and administered into the stomach by a cannula 20 hours after the hydrogen peroxide treatment. Bacterial doses used were from $4.2{ imes}10^6$ to $6.4{ imes}10^;CFU$/fish. Fish 72 hours after the challenged showed swollen and erosious lesion and focal necrosis with bacterial-eaden inflammatory cell in the Liver, Spleen, Kidney. Fish 96 and 120 hours after bacterial challenge were moribund showing swollen Liver, Spleen, Kidney and focal accumulation of macrophages and production of granulomas in the infected lesions.
