Technical Abstract: Juveniles from all possible crosses among USDA-102, USDA-103, and Norris strains of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were compared for survival and anti-Edwardsiella ictaluri antibody after exposure to live E. ictaluri bacterium (isolate S97-887); antibody level after injection with formalin-killed E. ictaluri (S97-887); and pre-stress, post-stress, and stress-recovery serum cortisol levels. Purebred and crossbred USDA-102 strain fish had higher survival (mean of 5 groups = 87%) and lower anti-E. ictaluri antibody (mean of 5 groups = 0.167 OD) 30 d after live E. ictaluri challenge than Norris and USDA-103 strains and their crosses (means for 4 groups = 60% survival and 0.210 OD antibody level). The USDA-102 strain contributed additive and dominance effects for increased survival and lower antibody level after live challenge. Antibody response to killed, i.p. injected E. ictaluri was not different among genetic groups. Serum cortisol level was highest in post-stress fish (35.8 ng/ml), intermediate in stress- recovery fish (10.9 ng/ml), and lowest in pre-stress fish (6.5 ng/ml), but was not different among genetic groups within a treatment. Results indicate that differences exist among genetic groups of catfish for survival and antibody production after live E. ictaluri challenge, but these differences were not related to antibody response to killed E. ictaluri or serum cortisol levels.