Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363146

Research Project: Genetic Improvement Of Marine Fish and Shellfish

Location: National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center

Title: Morphologic and molecular characterization of Gyrodactylus cyclopteri Scyborskaja, 1948 from Cyclopertus lumpus L., 1758

Author
item PIETRAK, MICHAEL
item ROSSER, THOMAS - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Parasitology Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2019
Publication Date: 3/17/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6863385
Citation: Pietrak, M.R., Rosser, T.G. 2020. Morphologic and molecular characterization of Gyrodactylus cyclopteri Scyborskaja, 1948 from Cyclopertus lumpus L., 1758. Parasitology Research. 119:879-884. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-019-06542-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-019-06542-0

Interpretive Summary: Interest and use of the lumpfish as a cleaner fish in salmon aquaculture has grown significantly over the past 10 years. This has resulted in an explosion of new hatcheries to supply juveniles to the salmon industry. Until recently, these hatcheries have utilized a significant amount of wild broodstock to source the eggs required. Importation of wild fish into aquaculture systems brings an inherent risk of introducing pathogens into the culture systems. A parasite was found on local wild collected lumpfish that were brought in to start a captive lumpfish aquaculture program in Maine. Little information on how to identify the parasite was available. A re-description of the parsite was undertaken to facilitate future identification and research into this parasite on what is rapidly becoming an economically significant new aquaculture species.

Technical Abstract: Interest and use of the lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus L., 1758 as a cleaner fish in salmon aquaculture has grown significantly over the past 10 years. This has resulted in an explosion of new hatcheries to supply juveniles to the salmon industry. Until recently, these hatcheries have utilized a significant amount of wild broodstock to source the eggs required. Importation of wild fish into aquaculture systems brings an inherent risk of introducing pathogens into the culture systems. Gyrodactylus cyclopteri Scyborskaja, 1948 was found on local wild collected lumpfish that were brought in to start a captive lumpfish aquaculture program in Maine. Little information on the identification or description of G. cyclopteri was available. A re-description of the parasite was undertaken to facilitate future identification and research into this parasite on what is rapidly becoming an economically significant new aquaculture species.