Measures applied to control Renibacterium salmoninarum infection in Atlantic salmon: a retrospective study of two sea ranches in Iceland

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 186; no. 3; pp. 193 - 203
• Main Authors: Gu∂mundsdóttir, Sigrı́∂ur, Helgason, Sigur∂ur, Sigurjónsdóttir, Herdı́s, Matthı́asdóttir, Sigrı́∂ur, Jónsdóttir, Halla, Laxdal, Bernhar∂, Benediktsdóttir, Eva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.06.2000; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Aquaculture; Atlantic salmon; Bacteria; Bacterial kidney disease; Biological and medical sciences; Broodstock culling; Erythromycin; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Iceland; Infections; Kidneys; Marine; Pisciculture; Renibacterium salmoninarum; Salmo salar; Sea ranching; Vertebrate aquaculture; North Atlantic; Atlantic Ocean Islands; Atlantic Ocean; Iceland; ANE, Iceland; Atlantic salmon; Erythromycin; Bacterial kidney disease; Broodstock culling; Renibacterium salmoninarum; Sea ranching; Salmonidae; Kidney disease; Animal microorganism relation; Urinary system disease; Farming animal; Prevalence; Salmo salar; Elimination; Infection; Marine environment; Prevention; Vertebrata; Chemotherapy; Pisces; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Stock; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/S0044-8486(99)00375-0

This study describes the success of broodstock culling in controlling Renibacterium salmoninarum infection on two sea ranches in Iceland. On both ranches, the overall percentage of positive broodfish was around 35% when the program was initiated. After a few years of broodstock culling, the prevalence figures for broodfish declined and remained below 2.0%. The progeny of the fish subjected to culling, sampled during smoltification, always tested negative for R. salmoninarum. As infected broodfish were detected in most years, there was a continuous risk of bacterial kidney disease (BKD) epidemics on both ranches.