Host-pathogen interaction of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the ectoparasite, Neoparamoeba perurans in amoebic gill disease

Marine farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are repeatedly susceptible to amoebic gill disease (AGD) caused by the ectoparasite Neoparamoeba perurans over their life cycle. The parasite elicits a highly localized response within the gill epithelium mucosa resulting in multifocal mucoid patches at the site of parasite attachment. This host-pathogen response drives a complex immune reaction within the pathology of the disease, which remains poorly understood. A dual RNA-seq approach was employed using Illumina sequencing technology to investigate both the linteraction between the host and the parasite. Overall design: A multi-tissue transcriptomic data set was generated from the gill (including both lesioned and non-lesioned tissue), head kidney and spleen tissues of AGD unaffected (n=4) and affected Atlantic salmon (n=4).