Emerging Flavobacterium spp. in the Great Lakes Basin: Identification and Assessment of Their Impacts on Fish Health

Grant: # 1147

Grant Amount: $220,674.00

Board Decision Year: 2010

Michigan State University - Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation (East Lansing)

Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation

Loch, Thomas ([email protected]) (517) 884-2019

GLFT - Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Fish Populations-C - Ecological and biological fisheries research to inform management

Project Details

Flavobacteriosis poses a serious threat to wild and propagated fish stocks alike, accounting for more fish mortality in Michigan and its associated hatcheries than all other pathogens combined. In this study, researchers at Michigan State University showed that many types of flavobacteria are associated with diseased wild, feral, and cultured fish stocks of the Great Lakes. Many of these bacteria have either never been reported from the Great Lakes or have never been described. This is of major importance for fishery managers, as it means that the current method of diagnosing flavobacterial diseases in fish is oversimplified and likely has implications for treatment outcomes in hatchery situations. In this context, the results from this study will serve as a platform from which the role, source, and improved diagnosis of these unusual flavobacteria can be elucidated.

These findings indicate that disinfecting hatchery pipelines and enclosures between rearing cycles is a viable way to reduce some flavobacterial reservoirs. Similarly, egg disinfection as currently adopted by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission Fish Health Committee is not sufficient in eradicating all of the potentially pathogenic flavobacteria and chryseobacteria in and on eggs. Likewise, the persistence of flavobacteria and chryseobacteria on hatchery tools, as well as in hatchery water sources, dictates that improved eradication measures be adopted.

Documents

2010.1147 Project Synopsis	View - 2010.1147_MSU_Faisal_FinalReport_Synopsis.pdf
Final Report	View - 2010.1147_MSU_Faisal_FinalReportNarrative.pdf