The development of clinical diets for farmed fish gill diseases

This project aims to develop clinical diets for use in aquaculture, with a specific focus on alleviating the symptoms of gill diseases, such as amoebic gill disease (AGD). The work falls within the BBSRC strategic priorities of animal health/agriculture and food security, welfare of managed animals and science excellence. Specifically, this research aims to optimise an intervention strategy to combat an endemic infectious disease that currently reduces the health and welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon in the UK.
AGD, caused by the parasitic protist Neoparamoeba perurans, is an emerging disease of salmon. The disease was reported in Tasmania in the 1980's and has now spread to other major salmon farming countries such as Chile, Norway and the UK. AGD can severely damage fish gills, resulting in poor growth and mortalities. AGD-infected fish are often susceptible to secondary infections of bacteria, viruses and sea lice. With salmon the largest food export for Scotland, with an estimated retail value of >1billion pounds sterling worldwide, this research strives to help maintain a supply of healthy fish for the table.
The proposed research builds upon previous collaborations on fish nutrition and immunity between the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC) and EWOS Innovation, including previous joint PhD student supervision. SFIRC is a world renowned centre for studies into fish immunology and EWOS a leader in the fish feed industry. Both partners benefit from the collaboration: SFIRC by access to novel diet formulations and access to experimental facilities and field trials run by EWOS, EWOS by access to cutting edge research into fish immunology with direct relevance to the pathology associated with AGD. The partners have the necessary expertise/facilities to achieve the project goals, and the supervisors have an excellent track record of successful PhD student supervision.
A two pronged approach to clinical diet assessment and optimisation for use with AGD will be adopted. In the first existing diets used to reduce the pathology of chronic viral diseases will be tested to assess impact on AGD-induced pathology and the host immune response elicited post-treatment and post-exposure to the disease at farm sites. In the second assessment of anti-protozoal defences will be carried out, and these results fed back into diet development to target such responses. Any promising new diet formulations will be field tested, with access to farm trials arranged by EWOS. Research training will be given to the student throughout the programme. At Aberdeen the student will be exposed to an academic environment typical of a research University, where cutting edge research is undertaken in a wide range of biological disciplines, and where multidisciplinary/ cross-disciplinary research is commonplace. In yr 1 induction to topics such as research ethics & governance, safety, risk assessment, record keeping will be given and immediate training needs assessed. In house training will be given for methods and use of equipment, with sign off once appropriate standards are met. In later years training for transferable and employability skills will be given with courses on report writing, oral presentation, project management, maximizing impact, interpersonal skills and being assertive, and interviewing skills. The student will visit the EWOS premises each year, to gain an understanding of the fish diet business and trial protocol preparations. A 3 month placement in yr 2 is planned, to help with setting up and sampling of the trials, with the potential for a further placement in yr 3. At EWOS the student will be integrated into an existing project-based management structure and will be an integral member of a defined project team, giving immediate access to other scientists specialised in statistics, trials design, nutrition, and veterinary science. This will facilitate training, skills development and effective knowledge transfer.