Risk factors for escalating saprolegniosis outbreaks in salmon farms (RIFE-SOS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Sch of Medicine, Medical Sci & Nutrition
Abstract
Fish diseases are a huge threat for the aquaculture industry and for global food security. Some of the most important disease-causing organisms in aquaculture are part of the oomycetes or watermoulds, in particular Saprolegnia parasitica, Saprolegnia diclina and Saprolegnia australis are causing serious fish losses. Collectively, these fungal-like organisms are responsible for at least 10% annual mortalities in most salmon hatcheries and freshwater sites. Consequently, Saprolegnia ranks among the most important pathogens of Atlantic salmon.
Unfortunately, over the last few years the incidences of saprolegniosis outbreaks in Scottish farms have significantly increased. Indeed, some sites have had very high losses due to saprolegniosis. Whereas other farms have remained largely disease free. The reasons as to why some farms are badly affected and others seem to avoid disease outbreaks, with apparent identical welfare standards and husbandry management practises, are at present completely unclear and form the main rational for the current application.
Our hypothesis is that several risk factors (pertaining to fish, pathogens and the environment) are playing a synergistic role in suppressing immunity in fish towards Saprolegnia, which lead to outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Therefore, we propose a concerted industry-wide, industry-led and industry-supported research programme to discover, map, model and understand the main drivers, risk factors, that allow saprolegniosis outbreaks.
A "big data" resource will be created that will be scrutinised with statistical methods to identify the main risk factors and conditions for outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Undoubtedly, identifying the main, or a combination of, risk factors will greatly aid the salmon aquaculture industry to pre-empt any future outbreaks and would lead to an integrated approach to saprolegniosis management, which would result in increased welfare standards, improved fish health, fewer losses and a reduction in production and treatment costs.
Unfortunately, over the last few years the incidences of saprolegniosis outbreaks in Scottish farms have significantly increased. Indeed, some sites have had very high losses due to saprolegniosis. Whereas other farms have remained largely disease free. The reasons as to why some farms are badly affected and others seem to avoid disease outbreaks, with apparent identical welfare standards and husbandry management practises, are at present completely unclear and form the main rational for the current application.
Our hypothesis is that several risk factors (pertaining to fish, pathogens and the environment) are playing a synergistic role in suppressing immunity in fish towards Saprolegnia, which lead to outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Therefore, we propose a concerted industry-wide, industry-led and industry-supported research programme to discover, map, model and understand the main drivers, risk factors, that allow saprolegniosis outbreaks.
A "big data" resource will be created that will be scrutinised with statistical methods to identify the main risk factors and conditions for outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Undoubtedly, identifying the main, or a combination of, risk factors will greatly aid the salmon aquaculture industry to pre-empt any future outbreaks and would lead to an integrated approach to saprolegniosis management, which would result in increased welfare standards, improved fish health, fewer losses and a reduction in production and treatment costs.
Technical Summary
Fish diseases are a huge threat for the aquaculture industry and for global food security. Some of the most important disease-causing organisms in aquaculture are part of the oomycetes or watermoulds, in particular three Saprolegnia species are causing serious fish losses.
Our hypothesis is that several risk factors (pertaining to fish, pathogens and the environment) are playing a synergistic role in suppressing immunity in fish towards Saprolegnia, which lead to outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Therefore, we propose a concerted industry-wide, industry-led and industry-supported research programme to discover, map, model and understand the main drivers, risk factors, that allow saprolegniosis outbreaks.
We will investigate for Fish: the genetic & historical background, developmental stage / age, size of fish, (anti-microbial) gene expression, immune status, cortisol production, mucus viscosity and quality, vaccination status, formalin treatment after vaccination, stock densities, feed and feeding practices and handling of fish / grading, mortality / moribund removal. For the Pathogen we will study: presence / absence of pathogen, spore load, species/strain, effectivity of formalin treatment, salt tolerance. For the Environment we will investigate: temperature (changes), oxygen levels, CO2 levels, toxic metals quantities, peat / organic content in water, salt concentration, pH and flow rate of water and microbial community.
A "big data" resource will be created that will be scrutinised with statistical methods to identify the main risk factors and conditions for outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Undoubtedly, identifying the main, or a combination of, risk factors will greatly aid the salmon aquaculture industry to pre-empt any future outbreaks and would lead to an integrated approach to saprolegniosis management, which would result in increased welfare standards, improved fish health, fewer losses and a reduction in production and treatment costs.
Our hypothesis is that several risk factors (pertaining to fish, pathogens and the environment) are playing a synergistic role in suppressing immunity in fish towards Saprolegnia, which lead to outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Therefore, we propose a concerted industry-wide, industry-led and industry-supported research programme to discover, map, model and understand the main drivers, risk factors, that allow saprolegniosis outbreaks.
We will investigate for Fish: the genetic & historical background, developmental stage / age, size of fish, (anti-microbial) gene expression, immune status, cortisol production, mucus viscosity and quality, vaccination status, formalin treatment after vaccination, stock densities, feed and feeding practices and handling of fish / grading, mortality / moribund removal. For the Pathogen we will study: presence / absence of pathogen, spore load, species/strain, effectivity of formalin treatment, salt tolerance. For the Environment we will investigate: temperature (changes), oxygen levels, CO2 levels, toxic metals quantities, peat / organic content in water, salt concentration, pH and flow rate of water and microbial community.
A "big data" resource will be created that will be scrutinised with statistical methods to identify the main risk factors and conditions for outbreaks of saprolegniosis. Undoubtedly, identifying the main, or a combination of, risk factors will greatly aid the salmon aquaculture industry to pre-empt any future outbreaks and would lead to an integrated approach to saprolegniosis management, which would result in increased welfare standards, improved fish health, fewer losses and a reduction in production and treatment costs.
Planned Impact
Who will benefit from this research?
(1) Pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries, the aquaculture industry (fish farmers), stake holders.
How will they benefit?
With the proposed project we will provide novel knowledge on the Saprolegnia-host interaction, in particular we will develop a risk prediction tool for saprolegniosis that would be extremely valuable for the farmers. Furthermore, we will investigate several parameters that might be important for disease initiation for two consecutive years. For example, we will determine several environmental parameters, the immune status of fish before and during an infection, investigate the quality and quantity of mucous production before and during infection, perform gene expression analysis in the skin, determine which Saprolegnia species are present in the farms, quantify spore levels, uncover microbial communities on the fish. All the data will be analysed with statistical and PCA modelling to determine what the main risk factors are for saprolegniosis.
The results of our study will allow farmers to anticipate better when to intervene with control measures. This should minimize the use of chemicals, because a more targeted and integrated approach can be implemented, which is good for the environment, good for the farm workers and also increases profitability for the fish farm companies.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
We will have quarterly RIFE-SOS management meetings where we will communicate our results and discuss better husbandry methods to reduce saprolegniosis outbreaks.
Furthermore, we will present our results at appropriate scientific meetings, and make reagents generated as part of this project available to other researchers under structured material transfer agreements. We will take advantage of natural liaison opportunities that emerge from our membership of BBSRC Networks. We will also work together with the Research and Innovation unit at the University of Aberdeen to identify findings that have clear potential for commercial exploitation. We will proactively inform all our partners about our findings by giving seminars for fish farm health managers. The PI currently gives such seminars on a very regular basis at several of the companies involved in the current application and at other stakeholder workshops (i.e. RSPCA, SSPO meetings).
(2): The public
How will they benefit?
The general public will benefit from this research in a number of ways because our work will ultimately safeguard food production. We will ensure that the public is informed about our research, forming part of a national effort by the science community to ensure greater scientific literacy among the general population. Our data will be published in open access journals.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
Ensuring public awareness of our research and allowing a public education impact to be made, we will use our groups' web sites to communicate our science to the public. Key research outcomes from this proposal will be communicated as press releases by the University of Aberdeen, SAIC, RSPCA and SSPO Communication sections after agreement with all our partners.
(3) Policy makers and (non)-government bodies
How will they benefit?
Legislators and (non)-government bodies involved in fish farming (such as RSPCA, DEFRA, SEPA, SSPO, the British Trout Association etc.) will be able to use some of our generated data to better inform the public policy makers and legislators about saprolegniosis outbreaks in the UK.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
We have excellent links with several representatives of these organisations and we will actively approach them to consider our findings.
(4) Fish
How will they benefit?
With our risk prediction tool, we hope that we will ultimately reduce mortality of salmon and contribute to better fish welfare.
(1) Pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries, the aquaculture industry (fish farmers), stake holders.
How will they benefit?
With the proposed project we will provide novel knowledge on the Saprolegnia-host interaction, in particular we will develop a risk prediction tool for saprolegniosis that would be extremely valuable for the farmers. Furthermore, we will investigate several parameters that might be important for disease initiation for two consecutive years. For example, we will determine several environmental parameters, the immune status of fish before and during an infection, investigate the quality and quantity of mucous production before and during infection, perform gene expression analysis in the skin, determine which Saprolegnia species are present in the farms, quantify spore levels, uncover microbial communities on the fish. All the data will be analysed with statistical and PCA modelling to determine what the main risk factors are for saprolegniosis.
The results of our study will allow farmers to anticipate better when to intervene with control measures. This should minimize the use of chemicals, because a more targeted and integrated approach can be implemented, which is good for the environment, good for the farm workers and also increases profitability for the fish farm companies.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
We will have quarterly RIFE-SOS management meetings where we will communicate our results and discuss better husbandry methods to reduce saprolegniosis outbreaks.
Furthermore, we will present our results at appropriate scientific meetings, and make reagents generated as part of this project available to other researchers under structured material transfer agreements. We will take advantage of natural liaison opportunities that emerge from our membership of BBSRC Networks. We will also work together with the Research and Innovation unit at the University of Aberdeen to identify findings that have clear potential for commercial exploitation. We will proactively inform all our partners about our findings by giving seminars for fish farm health managers. The PI currently gives such seminars on a very regular basis at several of the companies involved in the current application and at other stakeholder workshops (i.e. RSPCA, SSPO meetings).
(2): The public
How will they benefit?
The general public will benefit from this research in a number of ways because our work will ultimately safeguard food production. We will ensure that the public is informed about our research, forming part of a national effort by the science community to ensure greater scientific literacy among the general population. Our data will be published in open access journals.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
Ensuring public awareness of our research and allowing a public education impact to be made, we will use our groups' web sites to communicate our science to the public. Key research outcomes from this proposal will be communicated as press releases by the University of Aberdeen, SAIC, RSPCA and SSPO Communication sections after agreement with all our partners.
(3) Policy makers and (non)-government bodies
How will they benefit?
Legislators and (non)-government bodies involved in fish farming (such as RSPCA, DEFRA, SEPA, SSPO, the British Trout Association etc.) will be able to use some of our generated data to better inform the public policy makers and legislators about saprolegniosis outbreaks in the UK.
What will be done to ensure that they have the opportunity to benefit?
We have excellent links with several representatives of these organisations and we will actively approach them to consider our findings.
(4) Fish
How will they benefit?
With our risk prediction tool, we hope that we will ultimately reduce mortality of salmon and contribute to better fish welfare.
Organisations
- University of Aberdeen (Lead Research Organisation)
- Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (Project Partner)
- Scottish Sea Farms Ltd (Project Partner)
- Europharma Scotland Ltd (Project Partner)
- Landcatch (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- PULCEA (Project Partner)
- Grieg Seafood (Project Partner)
- Benchmark PLC (Project Partner)
- Cooke Aquaculture Scotland Ltd. (Project Partner)
- Mowi (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications
Beaton E
(2020)
The influence of depth and season on the benthic communities of a Macrocystis pyrifera forest in the Falkland Islands
in Polar Biology
Beckmann MJ
(2020)
Saprolegnia infection after vaccination in Atlantic salmon is associated with differential expression of stress and immune genes in the host.
in Fish & shellfish immunology
Benavent-Celma C
(2022)
Current practices and emerging possibilities for reducing the spread of oomycete pathogens in terrestrial and aquatic production systems in the European Union
in Fungal Biology Reviews
Faber MN
(2021)
Development of a 3D spheroid cell culture system from fish cell lines for in vitro infection studies: Evaluation with Saprolegnia parasitica.
in Journal of fish diseases
Frenken T
(2019)
Biological Concepts for the Control of Aquatic Zoosporic Diseases.
in Trends in parasitology
Ghimire B
(2022)
Transformation systems, gene silencing and gene editing technologies in oomycetes
in Fungal Biology Reviews
Hargreaves J
(2018)
The fungal ecology of seabird nesting sites in the Falkland Islands indicates a niche for mycoparasites
in Fungal Ecology
Henard C
(2022)
Can Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis (UDN) in Atlantic salmon be attributed to ultraviolet radiation and secondary Saprolegnia parasitica infections?
in Fungal Biology Reviews
Iberahim N
(2018)
Aphanomyces invadans, the causal agent of Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, is a global threat to wild and farmed fish
in Fungal Biology Reviews
Masigol H
(2021)
Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity of Saprolegniales and Fungi Isolated from Temperate Lakes in Northeast Germany.
in Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
Description | We have developed a tool that can predict when Saprolegnia outbreaks are likely to happen. This will use the farmers in decision making whether they should treat or not treat against Saprolegnia |
Exploitation Route | Several ways but it is too soon to report on this. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | For commercial reasons we can not fully report our findings here, but the results obtained in the project thus far are already helping farmers in making decisions on if and when to implement disease control measures. Saprolegnia epizootics were successfully detected across farms using a model based on historical mortality data. This allowed us to predict new potential outbreak situations in the farms that will help the farmer in making decisions about whether to treat, or not. S. parasitica was found to be present on all sites and was the primary species of saprolegnia present during epizootic samplings (67.2%). Furthermore, a single phylotype of S. parasitica was found to dominate epizootic samplings, making up 91.1% of all S. parasitica phylotypes during epizootic samplings. |
First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | BBSRC-LINK |
Amount | £1,200,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P020224/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2017 |
End | 05/2020 |
Title | Method developed to predict outbreaks of Saprolegnia |
Description | We have developed a model that can predict when a Saprolegnia outbreak in a salmon farm might occur with 80% confidence level. The model is specific for each farm individually and requires minimal input from the farmer. It will potentially save farmers using chemicals when they are not needed. |
Type | Management of Diseases and Conditions |
Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Non-clinical |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2023 |
Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
Impact | no impacts as of yet. Farmers are considering the use of our model on their aquaculture sites. |
Description | Cafe Scientifique |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I presented our work on Saprolegnia infections in salmon farms and how we are looking into new methods too control saprolegniosis and other fish diseases. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Organising Microbiology School lectures at University of Aberdeen |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Every year I am organising a school lecture for secondary school children to learn about microbiology and show them a career option in sciences and in particular microbiology. Usually we get 100-250 children attending between the ages of 16-18 from several regional schools (Aberdeenshire) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Press release: UK collaboration could see stocks of farmed Scottish salmon increase |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | UK collaboration could see stocks of farmed Scottish salmon increase A project to address one of the key challenges faced by Scotland's salmon farmers is underway, supported by grant funding from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and UK research council BBSRC. Saprolegnia - a type of water mould that can harm fish eggs and juvenile fish - is thought to significantly reduce stocks at Scotland's salmon farms every year. Now, a multi-partner cross-sector collaboration is seeking to minimise those losses and boost the availability of farmed Scottish salmon by compiling a 'big data' resource that will increase understanding of Saprolegnia and its causative factors. The project, 'Risk factors for escalating saprolegniosis outbreaks in salmon farms' (RIFE-SOS), is led by acclaimed scientist Professor Pieter van West, Director of the International Centre for Aquaculture Research and Development at the University of Aberdeen. It brings together the knowledge of eight aquaculture companies with the expertise of leading academics at the Universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow to develop an information toolkit on how to pre-empt and control occurrence of the disease. Says Pieter: "We know that several factors can make fish more susceptible to Saprolegnia and that separate farms subject to similar conditions can be affected to very different degrees. Therefore, we would like to explore what are the main risk factors and which of those factors play a synergistic role in suppressing fish immunity to Saprolegnia. The greater our understanding of this, the more we can do to improve fish health and welfare, and increase production volumes." The £1.1m project is supported by £340,285 grant funding from the BBSRC Link initiative, with the remaining £732,628 of the project cost coming from industry and SAIC. The RSPCA and Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation are also involved, providing support and guidance to partners. Comments SAIC CEO Heather Jones: "The sheer number and range of partners involved in this first-of-its-kind project underpins the scale of the issue - and the size of the opportunity both for the sector and global food security if we can put more effective controls in place. The world population continues to grow, so too does demand for food, and aquaculture has a key role to play in helping meet that rising demand." In addition to establishing a best practice approach to the management of Saprolegnia, it's thought the 36-month project could potentially help predict the risk factors associated with other issues that can affect fish, further improving health and welfare. The full RIFE-SOS project partnership includes: Benchmark; Cooke Aquaculture Scotland; Europharma; Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK; Landcatch Natural Selection; Marine Harvest Scotland; Pulcea; RSPCA, Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre; Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation; Scottish Sea Farms; the University of Aberdeen; and the University of Glasgow. ENDS About BBSRC BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by government, BBSRC invested £473 million in world-class bioscience, people and research infrastructure in 2015-16. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. More information about BBSRC, our science and our impact. More information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes. Notes to Editors For more information, interviews or images please contact Holly Garland, Garlandpr, at holly@garlandpr.co.uk or on 07958 363538. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/food-security/2017/170906-pr-uk-collaboration-could-see-stocks-of-farmed... |