Project: Determination of B, the Infection Efficiency, of Myxospores and TAM Stages of M. cerebralis Infection and a Laboratory Model of the Entire Infectious Cycle

Primary Investigator: Paul Reno
Project Summary: A laboratory simulation of the parasite life cycle was established, beginning with infected fish carcasses. Naturally decaying fish were able to infect T. tubifex present at densities of approximately 8,000/m2 and the worms in turn produced high levels of TAMs in the water. Sentinel fish held downstream from the worms contracted M. cerebralis infection and exhibited high levels of clinical whirling disease. Reproduction of the worm population and re-infection of juveniles likely occurred. This laboratory model of the disease process in moving water can be further used to determine the importance of various factors necessary to establish infection by the parasite in its vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Funding Period: 2002-2003
Final Report: Reno_02-03.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:

There are no datasets associated with this project.