Project: Effects of Age, Dose, and Environmental Stress on Development of Whirling Disease in Rainbow Trout

Primary Investigator: Elizabeth MacConnell
Project Summary: The development of whirling disease in rainbow trout was affected by both age at first exposure and parasite dose. The older the fish were when first exposed to M. cerebralis, the longer it took for clinical signs to develop. No clinical signs of whirling disease were recorded for fish exposed after 13 weeks post-hatch. Age of fish at first exposure and parasite dose rate significantly affected survival. During the first 2 months of age (at 13 degrees C) there was greater survival with decreased parasite dose. The number of M. cerebralis spores significantly increased with decreasing age at first exposure. Severity of infection increased with parasite dose if first exposed at ages younger than 9 weeks post-hatch. Swimming performance at 17 weeks post-exposure decreased with increasing severity of infection.
Funding Period: 1998-1999
Final Report: Ryce_98-99a.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:

There are no datasets associated with this project.