Project Number: 6420-32000-024-05
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Mar 01, 2010
End Date: Feb 28, 2015

Objective:
Determine effects of parasitism by Ichthyophthirius or Gyrodactylus on fish susceptibility to Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare and develop diagnostic assays for detection of fish pathogen in cultured fish and farm water.

Approach:
Catfish and tilapia will be used to evaluate the effect of parasitism by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis or Gyrodactylus on fish susceptibility to Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare; and determine if parasites can harbor and subsequently vector the bacterial pathogens using histology, fluorescent and molecular techniques. Rapid molecular and immunological detection assay will be developed and tested for their effectiveness in the detection of bacterial and parasite pathogens.