title: PCR testing for diagnosis of Ichthyophonus hoferi: reply to LaPatra & Kocan (2013).
abstract: LaPatra & Kocan (2013) critiqued our paper Hamazaki et al. (2013; Dis Aquat Org 105:21-25) for data not supporting the conclusions of 'PCR testing is as accurate as culture…', but they neither pointed out what part of our data did not support our conclusion, nor did they provide any contrary scientific evidence supporting their argument that PCR testing is less accurate than culture. In the absence of any contradictory data, we stand by our data and our conclusion: PCR test is as suitable as culture as a diagnostic and field surveillance tool.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99518, USA.
authors.forename: Toshihide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamazaki
authors.forename: Eryn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kahler
authors.forename: Bonnie M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Borba
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D050298:Mesomycetozoea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D050738:Mesomycetozoea Infections / Q000469:parasitology*; D045483:Rivers; D012474:Salmon