Summary of Fish Health Research Forum

AquaNet / Fiskeriforskning

Tromso, Norway

January 11 - 13, 2005

Forum Objectives and Overview:

The objective of the research forum was to provide an overview of fish health research being conducted in Canada and by Fiskeriforskning scientists, and identify areas of common interest with potential for future research collaborations. Many differences and similarities were found with respect to pathogen prevalence and disease problems. For example, infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a serious problem in Norway but not in Canada, and infectious salmon anemia (ISA) is a common problem for both countries. Both groups identified a lack of appropriate research tools to define, describe and modulate the immune response in new marine species such as the Atlantic cod. The effect of rearing conditions on disease susceptibility, and host-pathogen interactions were also identified as areas of common interest.

Scientific presentations were given by the participants listed below:

Participant Presentations:

“Impacts of the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in British Columbia, and the potential for novel vaccine immunotherapies”

Shannon Balfry, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

“Functional genomics approaches to host-pathogen interactions: Cod, halibut, and salmon meet Aeromonas salmonicida and nodavirus”

Laura L. Brown, National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Marine Biosciences, Halifax, Canada

“Experimental challenge of Atlantic cod with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and cloning of antiviral genes”

Ingvill Jensen, Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

“Research developments in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Kudoa thyrsites in farmed Atlantic salmon in British Columbia”

Simon Jones, Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

“Activation of immune mechanisms in salmonid fish by CpG DNA”

Jorunn Jørgensen, Assistant Professor, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Tromso, Norway

“Genetic diversity among Aeromonas salmonicida A-layer proteins; a potential protective antigen in furunculosis vaccines”

Vera Lund, Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

“Experimental nodavirus infections”

Ann-Inger Sommer, Senior Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

“Atlantic salmon and viral research”

Ann-Inger Sommer, Senior Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

“Intensive rearing of Atlantic salmon: effects on physiology, growth and risk of IPN”

Hilde Toften, Senior Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

“Use of saline water in intensive smolt production: effects on health, welfare and risk of Winter ulcer”

Hilde Toften, Senior Scientist, Fiskeriforskning, Tromso, Norway

Other Forum Participants:

Dr. Scott McKinley, Executive Scientific Director, AquaNet

Dr. Ivan Burkow, Managing Director, Fiskeriforskning

Erling Sandsdalen, Director of Research, Marine Biotechnology and Fish Health, Fiskeriforskning

Dr. Unn Sørum, Scientist, Fiskeriforskning

Lill-Heidi Johansen, Scientist, Fiskeriforskning

Helene Mikkelsen, Scientist, Fiskeriforskning

Dr. Christian Koren

Tove K. Hansen, Fiskeriforskning Aquaculture Research Station, Karvik

Bjorn-Morten Baardvik, Fiskeriforskning Aquaculture Research Station, Karvik

Anita Brandser, Fiskeriforskning Marine Farm, Skulgambukt

Lise Haug, National Cod Breeding Program, Kraknes

Astrid Slyesol, Research Assistant, Norwegian College of Fishery Science

Torunn P. Rakenes, Researcher, Norwegian College of Fishery Science

Kari Steiro, Fiskeriforskning

Audry Johansen, Fiskeriforskning

Elin Sandaker, Fiskeriforskning

Marit Seppola, PhD Student, Fiskeriforskning

Atle Mortensen, Fiskeriforskning