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Study Plan Number 01016-01

Branch : Fish Health Branch

Study Plan Number : 01016-01

Study Title : Detection of transmissible agents in Iron River NFH lake trout moralities

Starting Date : 05/01/1986

Completion Date : 09/30/2003

Principal Investigator(s) : McAllister, Philip E., II

Primary PI : McAllister, Philip E., II

Telephone Number : (304) 724-4441

Email Address : phil_mcallister@usgs.gov

SIS Number : 5002155

Primary Program Element : Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Second Program Element :

Status : Completed

Abstract : BACKGROUND
In the winter and spring of 1986, mortality began to occur in yearling lake trout at the Iron River NFH (WI). The mortality spread throughout the hatchery and involved the young of the year. Eventually essentially all the young and a high percentage of the yearling fish died. Unusual mortality has since occurred in broodstock and has recurred in the FY87 year class of fingerlings. Similar incidents of mortality having related clinical signs have occurred at state hatcheries in Michigan and Wisconsin. A USFWS Task Force was formed to investigate the mortality at Iron River NFH and to recommend procedures to mitigate further losses. Transmission experiments at the NFHRL and Iron River NFH showed that the cause of the mortality could be transmitted. Preliminary electron microscopic examination at the NFHRL showed virus-like structures in epidermal tissue, the site of distinct histopathologic change. Virological examinations have detected no cytopathogenic agents in cell culture. The etiological agent needs to be detected and identified and proven to be the cause of the mortality.
OBJECTIVES
1) detect, identify, and isolate the transmissible agent or agents causing mortality in lake trout from Iron River NFH.

2) prove by fulfilling Koch’s or River’s postulates that the agent or agents isolated do cause mortality in lake trout.

3) develop and assess the virus susceptibility of lake trout cell lines.

4) determine the carrier state and potential transmissibility of virus with sex products at spawning.

5) determine if lake trout produce antibody to the lake trout herpesvirus.

6) assess the virulence of stored clinical specimens.
HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED
A viral agent is the cause of the mortality occurring in young lake trout in the Lake Superior region.

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U.S. Department of the Interior || U.S. Geological Survey
11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov
Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov
Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn
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Branch :	Fish Health Branch
Study Plan Number :	01016-01
Study Title :	Detection of transmissible agents in Iron River NFH lake trout moralities
Starting Date :	05/01/1986
Completion Date :	09/30/2003
Principal Investigator(s) :	McAllister, Philip E., II
Primary PI :	McAllister, Philip E., II
Telephone Number :	(304) 724-4441
Email Address :	phil_mcallister@usgs.gov
SIS Number :	5002155
Primary Program Element :	Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Second Program Element :
Status :	Completed
Abstract :	BACKGROUND In the winter and spring of 1986, mortality began to occur in yearling lake trout at the Iron River NFH (WI). The mortality spread throughout the hatchery and involved the young of the year. Eventually essentially all the young and a high percentage of the yearling fish died. Unusual mortality has since occurred in broodstock and has recurred in the FY87 year class of fingerlings. Similar incidents of mortality having related clinical signs have occurred at state hatcheries in Michigan and Wisconsin. A USFWS Task Force was formed to investigate the mortality at Iron River NFH and to recommend procedures to mitigate further losses. Transmission experiments at the NFHRL and Iron River NFH showed that the cause of the mortality could be transmitted. Preliminary electron microscopic examination at the NFHRL showed virus-like structures in epidermal tissue, the site of distinct histopathologic change. Virological examinations have detected no cytopathogenic agents in cell culture. The etiological agent needs to be detected and identified and proven to be the cause of the mortality. OBJECTIVES 1) detect, identify, and isolate the transmissible agent or agents causing mortality in lake trout from Iron River NFH. 2) prove by fulfilling Koch’s or River’s postulates that the agent or agents isolated do cause mortality in lake trout. 3) develop and assess the virus susceptibility of lake trout cell lines. 4) determine the carrier state and potential transmissibility of virus with sex products at spawning. 5) determine if lake trout produce antibody to the lake trout herpesvirus. 6) assess the virulence of stored clinical specimens. HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED A viral agent is the cause of the mortality occurring in young lake trout in the Lake Superior region.
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U.S. Department of the Interior \|\| U.S. Geological Survey 11700 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA URL: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov Maintainer: lsc_webmaster@usgs.gov Last Modified: October 21, 2002 dwn Privacy Policy and Disclaimers \|\| FOIA \|\| Accessibility