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Amplification and transport of an endemic fish disease by an introduced species

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Abstract

The introduction of American shad from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast of North America in the late 1800’s and the subsequent population expansion in the 1980’s resulted in the amplification of Ichthyophonus sp., a Mesomycetozoean parasite of wild marine fishes. Sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA gene complex (small subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions) and Ichthyophonus epidemiological characteristics indicate a low probability that Ichthyophonus was co-introduced with American shad from the Atlantic; rather, Ichthyophonus was likely endemic to marine areas of the Pacific region and amplified by the expanding population of a highly susceptible host species. The migratory life history of shad resulted in the transport of amplified Ichthyophonus from its endemic region in the NE Pacific to the Columbia River watershed. An Ichthyophonus epizootic occurred among American shad in the Columbia River during 2007, when infection prevalence was 72%, and 57% of the infections were scored as moderate or heavy intensities. The epizootic occurred near the record peak of shad biomass in the Columbia River, and corresponded to an influx of 1,595 mt of infected shad tissues into the Columbia River. A high potential for parasite spillback and the establishment of a freshwater Ichthyophonus life cycle in the Columbia River results from currently elevated infection pressures, broad host range, plasticity in Ichthyophonus life history stages, and precedents for establishment of the parasite in other freshwater systems. The results raise questions regarding the risk for sympatric salmonids and the role of Ichthyophonus as a population-limiting factor affecting American shad in the Columbia River.

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Acknowledgments

Fish biomass numbers were provided by the Columbia River Data Access in Real Time (DART) Program (http://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart/). Funding was provided by the Bonneville Power Administration, Project #2007-275-00; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, Project # 070819; and US Geological Survey Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Program. We thank Dr. L. Hauser (University of Washington) for providing advice regarding phylogenetic analyses. Some field collections were provided by Paolo Lazatin, Joe Warren, and Collin Smith (USGS–CRRL), Dean Ballinger, Bruce Mills, and John Barton (Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission), Kurt Stick (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife), Nate Gray, Maine Department of Natural Resources. Technical assistance was provided by Cristina Pacheco, Rachael Collins, Mara Denny (US Geological Survey—Marrowstone Marine Field Station), and Charlotte Rasmussen (US Geological Survey—Western Fisheries Research Center). The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by the US Department of Interior or the US Geological Survey of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC), Marrowstone Marine Field Station, 616 Marrowstone Point Road, Nordland, WA, 98358, USA

    Paul K. Hershberger, Jacob L. Gregg & Courtney A. Grady

  2. US Geological Survey, WFRC, Columbia River Research Laboratory, 5501A Cook–Underwood Road, Cook, WA, 98605, USA

    Bjorn K. van der Leeuw & Michael J. Parsley

  3. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Lower Columbia River Fish Health Center, 201 Oklahoma Road, Willard, WA, 98605, USA

    Kenneth M. Lujan & Susan K. Gutenberger

  4. US Geological Survey, WFRC, 6505 NE 65th Street, Seattle, WA, 98115, USA

    Maureen K. Purcell, James C. Woodson & James R. Winton

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  1. Paul K. Hershberger
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Correspondence to Paul K. Hershberger.

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Hershberger, P.K., van der Leeuw, B.K., Gregg, J.L. et al. Amplification and transport of an endemic fish disease by an introduced species. Biol Invasions 12, 3665–3675 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9760-5

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