Norwegian scientists have found several different causes for a disease affecting farmed salmon.
Gill disease can cause massive lesions in salmon, reducing the surface area of gills and resulting in breathing problems that lead to death.
Research conducted by scientists at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science aimed to identify microorganisms that are involved in gill disease by means of modern, molecular methods, combined with traditional, histopathological studies.
Results indicate that two bacteria, Ca. Pisciclamydia salmonis and a yet-to-be-named species, plus a recently discovered unicellular parasite, Desmozoon lepeophtherii, play a role in the development of the gill disease. In addition, the research shows that an amoeba called Neoparamoeba perurans is linked to the amoeba gill disease diagnosed in Norway four years ago.
The research has also increased basic knowledge through its description of other bacteria that normally occur in the gills of diseased and healthy fish.
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