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Development of a novel histopathological gill scoring protocol for assessment of gill health during a longitudinal study in marine-farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

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Abstract

Gill health and disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were studied at a marine site on the west coast of Ireland. Fish were sampled on a regular basis during the summer and autumn of 2009. A novel histopathological scoring system was devised to give a semi-quantitative measure of gill pathology. The index criteria for gill histopathology were lamellar hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, circular anomalies (necrosis or sloughing) and lamellar oedema, a score from 0 to 3 being assigned for each parameter. Ancillary criteria, such as hypertrophy, haemorrhage and the presence of specific pathogens, were assigned a score of 0 or 1. Environmental monitoring undertaken included zooplankton and phytoplankton sampling, as well as temperature and oxygen recordings for the site. Epitheliocystis was frequently observed at low levels but was not associated with any significant gill pathology. Clinically significant gill pathology was observed on one occasion during the sampling period, coinciding with the occurrence of Pelagia noctiluca, Muggiaea atlantica and Solmaris corona. Throughout the longitudinal study, the scoring system provided an accurate and effective means of assessing gill health, demonstrating the ability of this practical tool to be used in future studies of gill health and disease.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the staff in An Cheathru Rua for the excellent help and support during the sampling. SM was funded by the Irish Council for Science, Engineering and Technology under her PhD project. EJB and HDR were supported by the GILPAT project [Grant-Aid Agreement No PBA/AF/08/002(01)] carried out under the Sea Change strategy with the support for the Marine Institute and the Marine Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan 2007–2013, co-financed under the European Regional Development Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vet-Aqua International, Oranmore Business Park, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland

    Susan O. Mitchell & Hamish D. Rodger

  2. Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Susan O. Mitchell & Celia Holland

  3. Coastal and Marine Research Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cork, Ireland

    Emily J. Baxter

  4. School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork, Ireland

    Emily J. Baxter

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  1. Susan O. Mitchell
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  2. Emily J. Baxter
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  3. Celia Holland
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  4. Hamish D. Rodger
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Correspondence to Susan O. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, S.O., Baxter, E.J., Holland, C. et al. Development of a novel histopathological gill scoring protocol for assessment of gill health during a longitudinal study in marine-farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Aquacult Int 20, 813–825 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9504-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9504-x

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