TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation
on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland
between 1996 and 2006
AU - Lees, F.
AU - Gettinby, G.
AU - Revie, C.W.
AU - Marine Harvest (Scotland) (Funder)
PY - 2008/4
Y1 - 2008/4
N2 - Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice
records over an 11 year period provide evidence of
changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data,
collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic
salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice
commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis
and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms
over the past decade. Reductions for both species
have been particularly marked since 2001 when
more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the
database and these show a growing trend towards
the use of the in feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the
salmon production cycle. However, this trend to
wards single product use has not been sustained in
2006, the latest year for which data are available.
There is some evidence of region to region variation
within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing
higher levels of infestation. However, compared to
the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all
regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation,
with the overall pattern showing a particular
reduction in the second and third quarters of the
second year of production.
AB - Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice
records over an 11 year period provide evidence of
changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data,
collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic
salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice
commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis
and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms
over the past decade. Reductions for both species
have been particularly marked since 2001 when
more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the
database and these show a growing trend towards
the use of the in feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the
salmon production cycle. However, this trend to
wards single product use has not been sustained in
2006, the latest year for which data are available.
There is some evidence of region to region variation
within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing
higher levels of infestation. However, compared to
the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all
regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation,
with the overall pattern showing a particular
reduction in the second and third quarters of the
second year of production.
KW - aquaculture
KW - ectoparasiticide
KW - epidemiology
KW - lepeophtheirus salmonis
KW - salmo salar
KW - scotland
KW - survey data
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2761.2007.00897.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2761.2007.00897.x
M3 - Article
VL - 31
SP - 259
EP - 268
JO - Journal of Fish Diseases
JF - Journal of Fish Diseases
SN - 0140-7775
IS - 4
ER -