Project Detail
Project: Relative Susceptibility of Selected Deschutes River, Oregon Salmonid Species to Experimentally Induced Infection by Myxobolus cerebralis
Primary Investigator: Jerri BartholomewProject Summary: This project assessed the susceptibility of chinook salmon to M. cerebralis and examined current management practices for anadromous salmon that may lead to parasite exposure. Laboratory challenges at different ages demonstrated infection severity is lower and disease resistance develops earlier in chinook salmon than in the rainbow trout. Chinook salmon were also more resistant to repeated challenge, suggesting greater resistance under natural conditions. In addition to the potential direct effects of clinical disease, exposure of anadromous salmonids to M. cerebralis may contribute to the dissemination of the parasite. Exposures of sentinel rainbow trout demonstrated presence of the parasite at all acclimation sites. Detection of infection in steelhead smolts demonstrates that infection occurs even when exposure is delayed until one year of age. Further, infected fish from eastern Oregon have been detected as adults straying into lower Columbia River tributaries, suggesting that these fish may interfere with management efforts to prevent the spread of M. cerebralis. Finally, transfer of naturally-exposed and experimentally-challenged steelhead to salt water demonstrated a decreased ability to survive, suggesting that M. cerebralis infection may contribute to mortality during saltwater adaptation.
Funding Period: 2001-2002
Final Report: Bartholomew_01-02.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:
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