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Scientists identify new gill disease species
31 May 2007AUSTRALIA - Scientists from the University of Tasmania in Launceston have made an unexpected discovery that has rewritten 20 years of research.
A team from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute has identified a new species of parasitic amoeba as the cause of a disease in farmed Atlantic salmon.
Amoebic gill disease is caused by a single-celled marine organism that attaches to the gills and can cause heavy stock loss.
For about 20 years it was believed a certain species of amoeba was responsible for the disease, but PhD student, Neil Young has found that it's actually caused by a previously unknown, but related species.
Mr Young says the discovery will help in the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines that will benefit salmon farmers.
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