Project number: 2011-069
Project Status:
Completed
Budget expenditure: $75,439.99
Principal Investigator: Melanie Leef
Organisation: University of Tasmania (UTAS)
Project start/end date: 31 Jan 2012 - 2 Mar 2013
Contact:
FRDC

Need

With a production value of over $362 million (2009-2010 ABARE), the Tasmanian Atlantic salmon industry is now the most economically valuable finfish industry in Australia. This industry employs over 2000 people therefore the social, economic and arguably cultural values to the Tasmanian community are considerable. AGD is the most significant health issue affecting the production Atlantic salmon in Tasmania with estimated costs to the industry of up to 20% of total production. These costs relate to freshwater bath treatments, which require specialised infrastructure and are labour intensive, as well as lost production through both mortality and decreased growth. AGD outbreaks are more frequent in the summer months however with increasing temperatures bathing frequency and associated costs appear to be extending into traditionally AGD-free periods such as spring and autumn. Mitigation of these costs is therefore essential to maintain the profitability of the industry.

This proposal was developed to specifically address the TSGA R&D strategic themes ‘AGD-determination of what is actually killing the fish’ and ‘AGD-development of in-vitro assay systems’. Previous in-vivo studies have failed to determine the physiological cause of AGD-related mortality (project 2001/205). Additionally performance of an in-vitro model developed for AGD research (see project 2001/244) was found to be inconsistent and its use for research purposes was ceased. The use of an in-vitro perfused gill preparation could resolve these issues as the physiological mechanisms relating specifically to gill function could finally be quantified for heavily affected and moribund animals. The in vitro perfused gill preparation offers a novel approach to AGD research. Manipulation of the model to varying external (surrounding medium) and internal (perfusate) conditions will allow direct examination of gill function in not only AGD-affected fish but also has direct application for other health and non health based physiological studies.

Objectives

1. Development of an in vitro perfused Atlantic salmon gill model for use in both AGD and non health based physiological studies
2. In vitro assessment of gill function in AGD affected fish
3. Investigation of altered gill blood flow patterns and brnachial (gill) vascular resistance in AGD affected fish

Final report

ISBN: 978-1-86295-709-1
Author: Melanie Leef

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PROJECT STATUS:
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ORGANISATION:
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