Virulence of Selected Salmonid-Pathogenic Bacteria in Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)

Arctic char are a very important commercial and sport fisheries salmonid
species, particularly in northern geographic ranges such as northern US, Canada
and in Scandinavian countries. Recently, interest in intensive culture of
Arctic Char has increased in more southern geographic areas and where water
temperatures are warmer. Presently, two commercial growers are culturing Arctic
char in West Virginia. The Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, WV has begun
projects to evaluate the feasibility for rearing Arctic char in recycle systems
in southern regions. Information regarding the diseases affecting Arctic char,
and of the susceptibilities of char to major infectious salmonid bacterial
pathogens is very limited. Renibacterium salmoninarum has been detected and
bacterial kidney disease was diagnosed in free ranging, wild populations in the
Northwest Territories in Canada. Columnaris disease has been diagnosed in
Finland; furunculosis is a significant disease problem in char in Sweden and
Finland.

Information was obtained from: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/

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