Transcriptomic responses of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) skin and head kidney to chalimus and adult stages of sea lice under different thermal profiles

Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) represent a significant ectoparasitic challenge in salmon aquaculture, causing substantial economic losses and compromising fish health worldwide. Family-based transcriptomic studies provide crucial insights into genetic variations in host immune responses, offering promising strategies for selective breeding and parasite resistance management in Atlantic salmon. This study investigated the transcriptomic responses of Atlantic salmon from different families when infected with two developmental stages of sea lice (chalimus and adult stages) under different temperature conditions.