Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2023
Höfundar / Authors: Nóa Sólrún Guðjónsdóttir , Birkir Þór Bragason , Ástrós Eva Ársælsdóttir and Árni Kristmundsson
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur
Kynnir / Presenter: Ásthildur Erlingsdóttir
Parvicapsulosis is a problematic disease caused by the myxozoan parasite Parvicapsula pseudobranchicola (P.p). The parasite was described by Karlsbakk et al. (2002), in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Norway. The main target organ of P.p are the pseudobranchs and clinical signs include surface dwelling, disorganized swimming, lethargy and signs of blindness. P.p. was first reported in Iceland in 2019 and has been a recurring problem in the Icelandic salmon farming industry ever since. The aim of this project is to map the distribution and prevalence of P.p in Icelandic salmonids, both farmed and wild, as well as identifying the final host. Fish from several locations around the island were screened for P.p. by using PCR, histology and in situ hybridization. Preliminary results reveal that the prevalence of P.p. in wild salmonids is very low, both in proximity to farming sites and further away. In contrast, prevalence in farmed salmon is high, although variable depending on the location. The parasite was also successfully amplified in a polychaete host species.