The impact of pancreas disease (PD) on flesh quality of Atlantic salmon

PD is a serious and infectious disease. In 2005, PD was diagnosed in salmon at 35 seawater locations as compared to 11 in year 2000. Most Norwegian salmon farms with a PD diagnosis are located in Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordene but PD is unfortunately spre ading to new geographic areas. The industry is experiencing problems with the quality of salmon with previous PD diagnosis. The most pronounced problems are discolouration of smoked fillets after vacuum packaging, soft flesh and accelerated microbial grow th. The present project will determine quality development during and following PD infection. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses, post-mortem energy depletion, enzymatic activity and carotenoid metabolism will be studied in detail. Comparison between quality analyses (texture, colour, microbiological quality) and the aforementioned tissue analyses will provide improved knowledge on underlying causes for the quality deterioration related to PD. Based on the results obtained , practical guidelines will be established. The guidelines will include recommendation on how salmon with a previous PD diagnosis should be handled. Predominately emphasis will be paid on elucidating the suitability for smoking. Based on the tissue struct ure analyses, strategies accelerating muscle regeneration post-infection will be identified.