The emergence of a new gill disease among farmed salmon has brought aquaculture experts from Scotland, Chile, and the research and development team from Hendrix Genetics together with the aim to establish early detection and potential treatment of the challenge.
Caused by a range of bacteria, viruses, parasites, algae, and zooplankton, complex gill disease (CGD) is a growing health challenge for farmed Atlantic salmon across the world. In 2018, a new type of CGD emerged in Chile, resulting in significant gill inflammation among the fish. This progressed unusually quickly and led to stock losses.
Following this outbreak, researchers from Hendrix Genetics, the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, and the Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling collected and analyzed samples to conduct an in-depth assessment of the developing disease.
These samples are currently undergoing genomic and transcriptomic analysis at the Roslin Institute. It is hoped the results could help the researchers better understand the pathology of the disease and, through genomic studies, determine whether fish with enhanced resistance could be bred in the future.
“Our findings will have far-reaching implications leading to enhancements in early detection and treatment outcomes, resulting in significant improvements in fish health and welfare, as well as the prevention of serious stock losses in the field,” Institute of Aquaculture gill health expert Sophie Fridman said in a press release.
Initial analysis by Noahgene Ltd., another project partner, has also suggested an earlier amoebic infection had been largely cleared, while pathogens commonly associated with CGD in Europe were discovered. However, an important finding was very high levels of the bacterium Tenacibaculum maritimum, which is usually present in gills damaged by algal blooms. Additional assessment conducted at Harper Adams University did not find pathogens commonly associated with CGDs in Europe.
“It is most encouraging to have uncovered a finding of such potential significance at this early stage – if this pattern is confirmed in subsequent cases, it could point the way to treatment strategies, including opportunities for selective breeding,” Hendrix Genetics Aquaculture genomics expert Alastair Hamilton said.
Funding for the project has been provided by the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).
Photo courtesy of Scottish Sea Farms
