Project: Molecular Examination of the Species Complex and Geographic Population Structure of Tubifex tubifex, the Oligochaete Host of the Whirling Disease Parasite

Primary Investigator: Charlotte Rasmussen
Project Summary: Laboratory experiments and field studies were used to determine whether genetic differences among worm populations contribute to the distribution and variable levels of disease severity seen among wild fish populations. Genetic analyses of the worms uncovered genomic patterns that appeared to predict the level of parasite production. Preliminary results indicate that the genetic composition of worm lineages within river drainages appears to be stable through time and over significant distances. Moreover, the epidemiology of whirling disease within streams appears to correlate with the genetic composition of the worm populations found within the stream.
Funding Period: 2000-2001
Final Report: rasmussen_00-01.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:

There are no datasets associated with this project.