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Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a commonly used treatment for a range of parasitic diseases of marine finfish, including amoebic gill disease (AGD). While this treatment is partially effective at reducing parasite load, H2O2 can have detrimental effects on the host under certain conditions. Treatment temperature and dose concentration are two factors that are known to influence the toxicity of H2O2; however, their impact on the outcome of AGD treatment remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of treatment temperature (8, 12 or 16°C) and dose concentration (750, 1,000, 1,250 mg/L) on the efficacy of H2O2 to treat AGD. We demonstrated that a 20‐min bath treatment of H2O2 at all doses reduced both parasite load and gross gill score significantly. Parasite load and gross gill score were lowest in the 1,000 mg/L treatment performed at 12°C. At the high dose and temperature combinations, H2O2 caused moderate gill damage and a significant increase in the plasma concentration of electrolytes (sodium, chloride and potassium). Taken together, our study demonstrates that higher H2O2 treatment temperatures can adversely affect the host and do not improve the effectiveness of the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branchial surfaces of finfish species contain a microbial layer rich in commensal bacteria which can provide protection through competitive colonization and production of antimicrobial products. Upon disturbance or compromise, pathogenic microbiota may opportunistically infiltrate this protective barrier and initiate disease. Amoebic gill disease (AGD) is a globally significant health condition affecting salmonid mariculture. The current study examined whether altering the diversity and/or abundance of branchial bacteria could influence the development of experimentally induced AGD. Here, we challenged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with Neoparamoeba perurans in a number of scenarios where the bacterial community on the gill was altered or in a state of instability. Administration of oxytetracycline (in-feed) and chloramine-T (immersion bath) significantly altered the bacterial load and diversity of bacterial taxa upon the gill surface, and shifted the community profile appreciably. AGD severity was marginally higher in fish previously subjected to chloramine-T treatment following 21 days post-challenge. This research suggests that AGD progression and severity was not clearly linked to specific bacterial taxa present in these systems. However, we identified AGD associated taxa including known pathogenic genus (Aliivibrio, Tenacibaculum and Pseudomonas) which increased in abundance as AGD progressed. Elucidation of a potential role for these bacterial taxa in AGD development is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amoebic gill disease (AGD) affects global marine aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon, requiring costly reiterative treatment and negatively impacting fish performance and welfare. Although there has been gradual and ongoing progress in genetic selection to improve host resistance to the causative agent (Neoparamoeba perurans) there has been little focus on the response of interspecific hybrids to AGD challenge. Previous research has demonstrated that Atlantic salmon x brown trout hybrids had reduced requirement for freshwater bathing (based on gross gill signs) during chronic natural AGD exposure, yet there has been no histological or molecular evidence confirming differential host response or parasite abundance. In this study we exposed Atlantic salmon (SS), brown trout (TT) and their reciprocal interspecific hybrids (TS and ST) to a single laboratory challenge (∼700 amoebae.l−1 for 18 days) and compared the resultant infection and disease signs characteristic of AGD. Gill score was significantly higher in SS than in TT and hybrids. Copy number quantification of amoebae on gills was higher in salmon than in hybrids or trout but did not differ between hybrids and trout. Gill histopathology confirmed both an increased amoebae abundance and higher expression of host tissue reaction in SS with significantly higher percentages of lesions harboring hyperplastic lesions. Mid-parent and best-parent heterosis of resistance to N. perurans and host response (gill lesions) was confirmed but did not differ between hybrid crosses. Although limited to a single laboratory infection event, our results support previously reported observations (from natural infection/reinfection) of reduced AGD signs in trout and interspecies hybrids. We conclude that interspecies hybrids have potential to improve our understanding of salmonid resistance to amoebic branchitis and support future gene-based research toward fish disease management. • Heterosis for resistance to AGD in a single infection tank challenge confirms previous field-based observations. • Consistent tempered response in hybrids confirmed by gross gill score, qPCR and histology. • Hybrids from both maternal species showed marginal heterobeltiosis of AGD response compared to 'best parent' brown trout. • Salmon x trout hybrids may provide valuable insights into resistance to AGD [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gill mucosal microbiome of Atlantic salmon has a significant impact on mucosal health and physiology under homeostatic conditions, but the microbial community may itself be influenced by host genetics, the culture system and seawater transfer. In this study, the impact of two commercial strains of Atlantic salmon, reared in two parallel hatchery systems (flow-through -FT and recirculation -RAS) on the gill microbiome was investigated. Samples of gill mucosal microbiome, tank biofilm and water were collected from the fish cohorts at the hatcheries and following seawater transfer. Though the gill microbiome of fish from the two commercially equivalent FT and RAS hatcheries had similar beta and alpha diversity, the alpha diversity indicators of bacterial communities of gills significantly increased after seawater input. Ultimately, no effect of the genetic strain on the gill microbiome was detected. Our results showed that under commercially equivalent FT or RAS hatchery systems with a common water source, two strains of Atlantic salmon had comparable gill microbiomes. • Gill microbiome of two commercial genetic fish strains was compared • Atlantic salmon reared in RAS and FT systems with common water source had comparable gill microbiome • Seawater transfer was a major factor influencing gill microbiome diversity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chloramine-T (Cl-T) is a disinfectant and sanitizer widely applied to treat bacterial infections on the gill and skin of Atlantic salmon during freshwater culture. It is typically applied as static or flush treatments during periods of disease risk or in response to pathogen detection or gross disease signs. While the efficacy of CI-T to reduce specific bacterial pathogens has been demonstrated previously, its effect on the broader commensal microbial community is largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the present study examined the effects of a one-hour Cl-T treatment (nominal 15 mg L−1) on the skin and gill microbiome using a 16S rRNA based amplicon sequencing approach. Furthermore, the total bacterial load and histological changes in the gill were examined following CI-T treatment. Although, bacterial quantification on gills and water confirmed decreased bacterial load at 1 h, these loads returned to pre-treatment levels by 24 h. Microbial richness of bacterial communities on skin and gills varied at 1 h, and 13 d compared to 0 h. Contrary to the gills, microbial diversity on skin decreased after treatment. Gill histology showed subepithelial oedema at 24 h and increased number of lamellar mucous cells at 7 d compared with 0 h. This study reports the effects of commercially deployed Cl-T on two gill health indicators: bacterial microbiome composition and gill morphology in fresh water farmed Atlantic salmon. • A commercial Chloramine-T bath reshaped salmon gill and skin microbiome. • The bacterial load on gills was reduced, but treatment did not alter diversity. • Bacterial load and diversity on skin were altered following Chloramine-T application. • An acute irritation response was observed in gills of treated fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]