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SECTION 2. DISEASE <br />The control of fish diseases is a major concern in the culture of <br />all salmonid species. The efficient propagation of fish (at ,ail <br />life stages) may be severely impacted by the occurrence of disease <br />outbreaks. While broodstock may be more resistant to diseases and <br />parasites than small fish by virtue of their larger size and well <br />developed immune system, this resistance can not be taken for <br />granted. When a disease outbreak does occur in a broodstock <br />population, it can be just as difficult to control as a similar <br />condition in smaller fish. Furthermore, the loss of broodstocks is <br />likely to result in a greater impact on program goals than is the <br />loss of production fish. <br />A basic understanding of the nature of fish diseases is essential <br />in order to safeguard hatchery broodstocks. Such information will <br />assist the culturist in both preventing and minimizing the effect <br />of disease outbreaks. A portion of the following discussion is <br />excerpted .from the Advisory Note by Kapuscinski and Gross, 1986 <br />(1) <br />Fish Diseases <br />Fish, like all animals, under certain conditions are subject to a <br />variety of diseases. Many diseases in fish are caused by <br />pathogens. Such organisms are generally capable of causing disease <br />only when the host's resistance is lowered. Common pathogenic <br />organisms include parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Fish <br />can also suffer from diseases caused by environmental and <br />nutritional deficiencies. A fish disease is a state of imbalance <br />between the fish and its environment, a condition that if not <br />rectified may lead to death. <br />Under natural conditions, fish populations seldom ekperience severe <br />disease outbreaks. However, when fish are crowded-and reared under <br />the unnatural conditions of the hatchery environment, the potential <br />for serious disease infections is greatly increased. <br />Hatchery reared salmonids are subject to a wide spectrum of <br />diseases caused by a variety of pathogenic organisms. Comt~lete <br />information on the diagnosis identification and treatment of <br />suecific salmonid diseases can be found in the manuals "Diseases of <br />Hatchery Fish" by Warren 1981 l2) and "Introduction to Fish <br />Health" by Nelson et al 1988 f3) <br />2-1 <br />