Inter-Research > DAO > v87 > n3 > p217-223  
DAO
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

via Mailchimp

DAO 87:217-223 (2009)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02109

Quantification of free-living Gyrodactylus salaris in an infested river and consequences for inter-river dispersal

Helga Rachel Høgåsen*, Edgar Brun, Peder A. Jansen

National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway

ABSTRACT: Gyrodactylus salaris is a major threat to wild populations of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in Norway. Inter-river dispersal of this parasite is considered to be mainly linked to infested fish. Dispersal through movement of contaminated water is considered possible but has not been quantitatively evaluated. To approach this problem, we built a simple model to estimate (1) the water concentration of free-living G. salaris and (2) the probability that given water volumes would contain free-living parasites. The concentration was back-estimated from reported experimental observations on the number of salmon juveniles found to be infected after being caged in a heavily infested river in Norway, protected from direct contact with the substrate or fish. Monte Carlo simulation was used to account for uncertainty and variability. The average concentration of G. salaris in the water column during the experiment was estimated to be 0.12 m–3 (95% CI = 0.05 to 0.24). The probability that a given volume would contain at least 1 parasite was 1.2 × 10–4 (95% CI = 5 × 10–5 to 2.4 × 10–4) for 1 l, increasing to 0.67 (95% CI = 0.39 to 0.91) for 10000 l. Thus, only high volumes were likely to represent a significant risk. Since we used data from a heavily infested spot, and despite the fact that time and space variations in water concentration of G. salaris may occur, we conclude that the risk of inter-river dispersal due to transfer of infested water through common river activities by humans is probably low.


KEY WORDS: Gyrodactylus salaris · Risk assessment · River water · Transmission


Full text in pdf format
Cite this article as: Høgåsen HR, Brun E, Jansen PA (2009) Quantification of free-living Gyrodactylus salaris in an infested river and consequences for inter-river dispersal. Dis Aquat Org 87:217-223. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02109

Export citation
Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn

 Previous article Next article