Saprolegnia sp.infection in Atlantic salmon - studies of occurrence, mycological characteristics and virulence mechanisms

This project aims at studying the occurrence of infection of Saprolegnia sp. in Norwegian hatcheries, to carry out mycological characterisation of the isolates, and to study the virulence mechanisms in challenge studies in fish. Saprolegnia sp isolates wi ll be subject to characterisation using standard mycological methods and with modern molucular biology tools. Virulence studies will be carried out in fertilised eggs. In vitro studies will be carried out aiming at understanding the interaction between mu cin and the infective zoospores of Saprolegnia. The project will provide new information about the incidence of Saprolegnia infection, characterise the isolated strains in terms of morphology and gentic characteristics and correlate these findings with vi rulence and host defence mechanisms.