Project Page Views: [ 732 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Amoebic disease of salmon |
| Research Area | aquaculture |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Dr Eugene McCarthy |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | GMIT |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.278624, -9.010565 |
| Lead Funding Entity | DAFM |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/09/2016 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 31/12/2019 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | Not Applicable |
| Project Keywords | amoebic disease, salmon |
| Project Abstract | As with most intensive aquaculture systems, economic viability is continually challenged by disease and cage-reared mortality rates of up to 20% have been estimated to occur within the Irish Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) industry base. Of greater concern to industry in Ireland are the estimated loss (12%) incurred specifically to gill disease (Rodger 2007) and is now considered to constitute one of the major health challenges in salmonid farming regions. In terms of economic impact, the most significant disease caused by gill parasites is amoebic gill disease (AGD), which is considered to pose the most serious threat to the salmon aquaculture industry in Ireland. AGD is believed to be a multifactorial condition involving both environmental and biological factors, while knowledge gaps still remain on the potential role of other pathogens such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses in the development of the disease. Based on current knowledge and expertise within the consortium, this project aims to generate knowledge for the development of preventative and curative practices and tools which will be adapted to relevant life stages and husbandry practices for the culture of Atlantic salmon. These will include: identification of genetic traits associated with host response to infection and their correlation to resistance, proteomics and next gen sequencing for identification of biomarker and targeted therapies and reduction strategies. The impact of this project will improve the sustainable production, economic performance and consumer perception of Irish aquaculture. This proposal is aligned to the Department of Agriculture and Food research framework and the objectives (A1.2 aquaculture breeding, A1.5 diagnostics and A1.7 disease control options) of the call topic ?Food Institutional Research Measure? to address the challenges faced by Irish industry for sustainable salmon aquaculture. |