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Epitheliocystis in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farmed in fresh water in Ireland is associated with ‘ Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola’ infection
Author(s) -
Mitchell S O,
Steinum T,
Rodger H,
Holland C,
Falk K,
Colquhoun D J
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of fish diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1365-2761
pISSN - 0140-7775
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2761.2010.01171.x
Subject(s) - salmo , biology , histopathology , gill , candidatus , 16s ribosomal rna , fresh water , seawater , microbiology and biotechnology , zoology , veterinary medicine , fishery , pathology , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , bacteria , genetics , medicine
Intracellular inclusions containing chlamydia‐like organisms are frequently observed in the gill epithelial cells of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., cultured in fresh water in Ireland. In this study, the causative agent was identified in four separate freshwater sites, using 16s rRNA sequencing, as ‘ Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola’. Histopathology and real‐time (RT) PCR were used to further assess infections. The prevalence of infection ranged from 75–100% between sites and infection intensity was highly variable. No significant lesions were associated with these infections. As a diagnostic tool, RT‐PCR proved marginally more sensitive than histopathology. The fate of ‘ Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola’ in Atlantic salmon post‐seawater transfer was investigated in a 12‐week marine longitudinal study. Both RT‐PCR and histopathological examination indicate that the organism disappears from the gills 4–6 weeks post‐transfer.