title: Gyrodactylid ectoparasites in a population of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
abstract: A colony of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a decentralized aquatic animal facility was noted to have an increase in morbidity and mortality (from 4 or 5 fish each month to 3 or 4 fish daily) approximately 2 wk after experimental procedures began. The primary clinical signs were erratic swimming behavior and 'flashing' of fish against surfaces within housing enclosures. Moribund and normal rainbow trout were presented alive for diagnostic evaluation; samples of water from housing enclosures were provided for water quality assessment. The trout were determined to be infected with gyrodactylids, a common monogenean ectoparasite of the skin and gills in both marine and freshwater fish. This case report describes the diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of gyrodactylids and husbandry modifications associated with the resolution of this clinical aquatic-animal case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Adam G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Maia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA. gsander@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D005880:Gills / Q000469:parasitology; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000469:parasitology*