Differing Resistance of Atlantic Salmon Strains and Rainbow Trout to Gyrodactylus salaris Infection

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted on the susceptibility of different strains of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss to infection with the monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris. This parasite, probably originating from the Baltic Sea region, is known to minimally affect Neva River (Baltic Sea) Atlantic salmon. However, following its introduction into Norway, G. salaris has caused severe mortality and morbidity among Norwegian Atlantic salmon, which are considered a highly susceptible strain. The cohabitation experiment included one stock of rainbow trout and four different strains of Atlantic salmon from the Baltic Sea region (Mörrum River, Sweden), Europe (Skjern River, Denmark; Conon River, Scotland), and North America (Bristol Cove River, Canada). Fish were exposed to a Norwegian strain of G. salaris, and parasite population development and distribution were monitored for 7 weeks. Rainbow trout exhibited low susceptibility to G. salaris infection, whereas Conon River and Skjern River Atlantic salmon were highly susceptible and exhibited high mortality rates. Mörrum River Atlantic salmon exhibited intermediate susceptibility and low mortality. Bristol Cove River Atlantic salmon harbored relatively low parasite numbers, but fish mortality was high. Our experiment showed that the Danish Skjern River strain of Atlantic salmon is highly susceptible to G. salaris infection, further supporting the hypothesis that Atlantic Ocean strains are more susceptible to G. salaris infection than are Baltic strains.