Selenium (Se) is an essential element for animals, including fish. Due to changes in feed composition for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), it may be necessary to supplement feeds with Se. In the present work, the transfer of Se and Se species from feed to muscle of Atlantic salmon fed Se supplemented diets was studied. Salmon were fed basal fish feed (0.35 mg Se/kg and 0.89 mg Se/kg feed), or fee...

The susceptibility of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) to an Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) pathogenic isolate of infectious salmon anaemia was investigated. No mortality or clinical signs of infectious salmon anaemia disease were recorded in either species following experimental challenge via intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection or cohabitation with i.p....

Several new viruses have emerged during farming of salmonids in the North Atlantic causing large losses to the industry. Still the blood feeding copepod parasite, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, remains the major challenge for the industry. Histological examinations of this parasite have revealed the presence of several virus-like particles including some with morphologies similar to rhabdoviruses. Th...

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) is one of the most important viral diseases of farmed Atlantic salmon. This highly contagious disease can be insidious, with an initially low mortality rate; however, the cumulative mortality can sometimes exceed 90% if the disease remains unchecked. Infectious salmon anemia was first described in Norway in 1984, and it continues to be a problem in that country de...

The high level of escapes from Atlantic salmon farms, up to two million fishes per year in the North Atlantic, has raised concern about the potential impact on wild populations. We report on a two-generation experiment examining the estimated lifetime successes, relative to wild natives, of farm, F(1) and F(2) hybrids and BC(1) backcrosses to wild and farm salmon. Offspring of farm and "hybrids...

The eating quality characteristics of farmed and wild Atlantic salmon, from locations in and around Northern Ireland, were compared by sensory analysis of frozen salmon. Quantitative descriptive analysis, using a trained panel, was used to compare specific attributes, while an untrained panel used hedonic scaling methods to assess acceptability. Freezing affected texture and appearance but had ...

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) is a serious disease of marine-farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) caused by ISA virus (ISAV), belonging to the genus Isavirus, family Orthomyxoviridae. There is an urgent need to understand the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms of ISAV and to develop new vaccine approaches. Using a recombinant molecular biology approach, we report the development of a ...

BACKGROUND Sea lice infection is the most expensive disease factor for Atlantic salmon sea-cage farming. For triploid salmon to be accepted as a commercial possibility, investigation of susceptibility of triploid salmon to sea lice infection is a fundamental milestone. The susceptibility of diploid and triploid salmon to infection with Lepeophtheirus salmonis was examined in a tank trial in Sco...

Relatively large rates of response to traits of economic importance have been observed in different selection experiments in salmon. Several QTL have been mapped in the salmon genome, explaining unprecedented levels of phenotypic variation. Owing to the relatively large selection intensity, individual loci may be indirectly selected, leaving molecular footprints of selection, together with incr...

Farm Atlantic salmon escape and invade rivers throughout the North Atlantic annually, which has generated growing concern about their impacts on native salmon populations. A large-scale experiment was therefore undertaken in order to quantify the lifetime success and interactions of farm salmon invading a Norwegian river. Sexually mature farm and native salmon were genetically screened, radio t...