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Temperature‐Mediated Differences in Bacterial Kidney Disease Expression and Survival in Renibacterium salmoninarum ‐challenged Bull Trout and Other Salmonids
Author(s) -
Jones Darin T.,
Moffitt Christine M.,
Peters K. Kenneth
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m06-002.1
Subject(s) - salvelinus , biology , trout , rainbow trout , oncorhynchus , arctic char , fishery , salmonidae , zoology , threatened species , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , habitat
Resource managers considering restoration and reconnection of watersheds to protect and enhance threatened populations of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus have little information about the consequences of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum. To better understand the response of bull trout to R. salmoninarum challenge, we conducted several laboratory experiments at two water temperatures. The extent, severity, and lethality of BKD in bull trout were compared with those of similarly challenged lake trout S. namaycush , Arctic char S. alpinus , Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha , and rainbow trout O. mykiss . The lethal dose of bacterial cells necessary to induce 50% mortality (LD50) was 10‐fold lower at the 15°C challenge than at the 9°C challenge. Of the species tested, bull trout were relatively resistant to BKD, Arctic char were the most susceptible among Salvelinus species, and Chinook salmon were the most susceptible among Oncorhynchus species tested. Mean time to death was more rapid for all fish tested at 15°C than for fish challenged at 9°C. These results suggest that infection of bull trout with BKD likely poses a low risk to successful restoration of threatened populations.