Atlantic salmon were exposed to amoebic gill disease (AGD) immediately following their acclimatization to sea water (group 1), or following a 2 week period of maintenance in sea water (group 2). Three fish from each group were sampled on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 post-infection. Characteristic gill lesions began to occur between days 2 and 4, and dramatically increased by day 7. The number of gill lesions on fish from group 2 was significantly higher than on fish from group 1 on days 7 and 14 (P<0.001), but the two groups did not differ in any other parameter. Histologically, Paramoeba sp., the aetiological agent of AGD, could be seen on the gills of fish as soon as 1 day post-exposure, attached to healthy-appearing gills. Gill pathology in the form of hyperplasia and lamellar fusion followed shortly. AGD infection was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of gill mucous cells (P= 0.002). Different methods for the diagnosis of AGD are discussed.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Fisheries sciences
Research Field:	Fish pests and diseases
Objective Division:	Animal Production and Animal Primary Products
Objective Group:	Fisheries - aquaculture
Objective Field:	Fisheries - aquaculture not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Zilberg, D (Dr Dina Zilberg)
UTAS Author:	Munday, BL (Dr Barry Munday)
ID Code:	19011
Year Published:	2000
Web of Science® Times Cited:	55
Deposited By:	TAFI - Aquaculture
Deposited On:	2000-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-11-07
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