Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in-feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend towards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production.     

Safety and efficacy of emamectin benzoate administered in-feed to Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts in freshwater, as a preventative treatment against infestations of sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer)

The safety and efficacy of emamectin benzoate, administered in-feed to Atlantic salmon smolts, Salmo salar L., held in freshwater, was evaluated as a preventative treatment against sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, following transfer of fish to seawater.

In the safety study, salmon smolts held in freshwater were fed with diets containing emamectin benzoate at nominal doses of 0 (control), 50 (recommended dose) and 250 (5× recommended dose) μg kg⁻¹ fish day⁻¹ for 7 days (days 0–6). Actual dose rates, based on measured concentrations of emamectin benzoate in feed, differences in fish weight, and feed consumed, were 0, 54, and 272 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively. On day 9, fish were transferred to seawater and observed for 14 days. No differences in feeding response, coordination, behaviour, gross and histological appearance were observed between control fish and those that received 54 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹. Among smolts that received 272 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, approximately 50% exhibited darker coloration, and one fish (1%) exhibited uncoordinated swimming behaviour. No pathognomonic signs of emamectin benzoate toxicity were identified.

In the efficacy study, smolts held in freshwater were fed an unmedicated ration (control group) or emamectin benzoate at 50 μg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ (treated group) for 7 days (days 0–6). On day 9, fish were re-distributed to eight seawater tanks, each holding 30 control and 30 treated fish. On days 28, 56, 77 and 109, respectively, control and treated fish in two tanks were challenged with L. salmonis copepodites. When lice in each group reached chalimus stage IV, fish were sampled and the numbers of lice were recorded. Fish challenged at day 109 were sampled for the second time when lice were at the adult stage. Efficacy was calculated as the reduction in the mean number of lice on treated fish relative to the mean on control fish. Treatment with emamectin benzoate resulted in an efficacy of 85.0–99.8% in fish challenged at days 28–77, from the start of treatment, and lice counts were significantly lower (P<0.001) on treated fish than on controls. When fish challenged at day 109 were sampled at day 128, efficacy was 44.3%, but survival of chalimus to adult lice on treated fish was lower, and at day 159, efficacy had increased to 73%. These results demonstrate that treatment of salmon smolts with emamectin benzoate in freshwater was well tolerated and highly effective in preventing sea lice infestation following transfer of fish to seawater.     

The sea louse Lepeophtheirus acutus (Caligidae, Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda) as a pathogen of aquarium-held elasmobranchs

Lepeophtheirus acutus Heegaard, 1943 (Caligidae, Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda), was collected from or observed on four of six elasmobranch species held at Burgers’ Zoo (Arnhem, The Netherlands). Circumstantial evidence suggested that a zebra shark, Stegostoma fasciatum (Hermann), from the wild carried the infection into the facility, where copepods reproduced and colonized additional hosts. Copepods typically attached on and about the eyes, in the mouth and occasionally about the cloaca and on the claspers. Severe ocular lesions were associated with infections on zebra sharks, a grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos (Bleeker), whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus (Rüppell), and giant shovelnose ray, Rhinobatos typus Bennett, while blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus (Quoy & Gaimard), and blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus (Valenciennes), living in infested aquaria showed no sign of infection. Water treatments using trichlorfon were considered primarily responsible for the eradication of copepods from hosts and infested aquaria. This case is the first report of a copepod infection being closely associated with disease and death of an aquarium‐held elasmobranch. Given its ability to infect a wide variety of elasmobranchs and promote life‐threatening lesions on some hosts, L. acutus should be considered a dangerous pathogen of captive elasmobranchs.     

Characteristics of monoclonal antibodies against Piscirickettsia salmonis

A panel of 28 monoclonal antibodies against Piscirickettsia salmonis was produced using a purified fraction of the bacterium. To determine their specificity to the pathogen, the antibodies were assayed by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. Six monoclonal antibodies were selected based on their strong reaction against P. salmonis and absence of cross-reactivity with other common fish pathogens. Western blot analysis showed that the antibodies reacted to several antigens of P. salmonis . Immunofluorescence assays revealed that these antibodies reacted with the same specificity to different isolates of P. salmonis obtained from the south of Chile. This panel of monoclonal antibodies represents an important tool to develop simple, rapid, sensitive and highly specific methods for the detection of the pathogen and diagnosis of the disease.     

Genetic characterization of populations of the ectoparasitic caligid, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer 1837) using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA

Genetic variability within salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Caligidae: Copepoda), populations parasitizing farmed and wild Scottish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was investigated using analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments. Seven individual decamer primers were used to analyse samples of salmon lice collected from 15 different locations in Scotland. The polymerase chain reaction products were separated using agarose gel electrophoresis and the resulting band patterns were analysed using a semi‐automated analytical scoring system. Dendrograms were produced using the unweighted pair‐group average (UPGMA) method using Dice similarity values. The summary dendrogram of the analysis of all RAPD bands showed two separate clusters of salmon lice, the larger being sub‐divided into a further two sections. The collections of lice occupying each of these sub‐divisions, however, were a mix of sites, which did not exhibit a structured geographical pattern.     

Sea lice treatments, management practices and sea lice sampling methods on Atlantic salmon farms in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada

Proper monitoring of all stages of sea lice is imperative to ensure the strategic timing of treatments. Although sea lice receive close attention and management for production purposes, there are no regulations for the reporting of lice burdens on salmon farms in Atlantic Canada, nor are there officially standardized protocols for conducting sea lice counts in the field. The purpose of this study was to complete a survey of Atlantic salmon farms in the Bay of Fundy, NB, Canada. The survey addressed many aspects of sea lice monitoring and control, including methods for sea lice sampling at the site, types of treatments administered for control of sea lice and management practices and decisions regarding the control of sea lice. A total of 83 surveys were completed from July to December 2002. Twelve of the 60 respondents owned and/or operated more than one site and completed a survey for each of their sites at the time of the interview. The position of individuals surveyed included 48 site managers (representing 63 sites), three site owners (representing 11 sites), eight individuals who were both owner and manager (representing nine sites) and one site veterinarian (representing one site). Surveys were completed on 30 sites from the Limekiln Bay and surrounding areas, 23 sites from Grand Manan Island, 18 sites from Deer Island, six sites from Campobello Island and six sites from Passamaquoddy Bay. Fish farmers, in concert with their veterinarians, generally perform intensive monitoring and control practices. However, there is a continued reliance on emamectin benzoate (SLICE^®) for sea lice control on Atlantic salmon farms in the Bay of Fundy, which raises concerns regarding the potential for sea lice to develop resistance to the drug.     

Evidence for occurrence of an organophosphate-resistant type of acetylcholinesterase in strains of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer)

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the target of a major pesticide family, the organophosphates, which were extensively used as control agents of sea lice on farmed salmonids in the early 1990s. From the mid‐1990s the organophosphates dichlorvos and azamethiphos were seriously compromised by the development of resistance. AChE insensitive to organophosphate chemotherapeutants has been identified as a major resistance mechanism in numerous arthropod species, and in this study, target‐site resistance was confirmed in the crustacean Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer isolated from several fish‐farming areas in Norway and Canada. A bimolecular rate assay demonstrated the presence of two AChE enzymes with different sensitivities towards azamethiphos, one that was rapidly inactivated and one that was very slowly inactivated. To our knowledge this is the first report of target‐site resistance towards organophosphates in a third class of arthropods, the Crustacea. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Association of red‐mark syndrome with a Rickettsia‐like organism and its connection with strawberry disease in the USA

Red‐mark syndrome (RMS), a disease seen mostly in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is of unknown aetiology. The research presented here indicates the presence of an intracellular bacterium in RMS‐affected fish. A positive reaction was observed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with skin lesions, liver, kidney and spleen of affected fish sampled from several locations within the United Kingdom using two different polyclonal antisera raised against Piscirickettsia salmonis. The same reaction was also seen with a number of different anti‐P. salmonis monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). A disease with similar clinical signs to RMS, referred to as strawberry disease (SD), has been reported in the USA. A Rickettsia‐like organism (RLO) has recently been associated with SD based on analysis of 16S rDNA sequences. Using the same panel of anti‐P. salmonis antibodies used to screen the RMS samples, similar staining was obtained in tissue of SD‐affected fish by IHC. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using RLO‐specific primers was also performed on RMS‐affected fish from the United Kingdom, and the samples were positive for the RLO 16S rRNA sequence. These findings suggest that the same aetiological agent may be responsible for RMS in the United Kingdom and SD in the USA.     

Intermediary metabolic response and gene transcription modulation on the Sub-Antarctic notothenioid Eleginops maclovinus (Valenciennes, 1930) injected with two strains of Piscirickettsia salmonis

Pathogen interactions with cultured fish populations are well studied, but their effects on native fishes have not been characterized. In Chile, the disease caused by bacterial species Piscirickettsia salmonis represents one of the main issues and is considered to be one of the important pathogens in the field of aquaculture. They have been found to infect native fish. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the impact of P. salmonis on native species of local commercial value, as well as the potential impact associated with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of P. salmonis. Due to this purpose, the native fish Eleginops maclovinus was used in our study. Fish were randomly distributed in tanks and intraperitoneally inoculated with two strains of P. salmonis. No mortality was recorded during the experiment. Cortisol, glucose and total α-amino acid levels increased in fish injected with AUSTRAL-005 strain compared to sham-injected and LF-89-inoculated fish. Moreover, results showed an increase in the activity of carbohydrates and lipids metabolism in liver; and an increase in the carbohydrates, lipids and total α-amino acid metabolism in muscle after injection with AUSTRAL-005. Our results suggest that P. salmonis modulates the physiology of E. maclovinus and the physiological impact increase in the presence of the antibiotic-resistant strain AUSTRAL-005.     

How are the salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer, 1837) in Atlantic salmon farming affected by different control efforts: A case study of an intensive production area with coordinated production cycles and changing delousing practices in 2013–2018

The aims of the present study were to describe the salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer, 1837) situation in an intensive salmon production area in mid‐Norway and to consider implications of changing practices of how salmon lice infestation can be controlled. The results in this study suggest that there are steps that can be carried out to keep salmon lice under control even during years when the temperature facilitates a quick salmon lice development. The present work indicates that the use of cleaner fish can delay the time it takes adult female lice to reach 0.1 per salmon in the beginning of a production cycle. It suggests that the timing of cleaner fish deployment into salmon cages can influence its effectiveness in controlling salmon lice. It also gives caution to letting salmon lice develop unchecked, even at levels far below the current lice limit, because of the difficulties to control salmon lice when the external infection pressure is too high. This study took place during a rapid change in delousing methods, in an area with coordinated salmon production. Despite its exploratory nature, this study offers insights into the salmon lice fluctuations in relation to efforts aimed at controlling it.