SEDL / STP / STP891-EB / STP33587S

Effects of Suspended Volcanic Ash and Thermal Shock on Susceptibility of Juvenile Salmonids to Disease

Poston, TM
Research scientists, Environmental Sciences Department, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA

Neitzel, DA
Research scientists, Environmental Sciences Department, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA

Abernethy, CS
Research specialist, Environmental Sciences Department, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA

Carlile, DW
Research scientists, Environmental Sciences Department, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, WA

Pages: 16    Published: Jan 1985

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Abstract

Susceptibility of salmonids to the fish pathogen, Flexibacter columnaris, was used to assess sublethal stress following exposures to two environmental stressors, thermal shock, and suspended volcanic ash. Juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) were more susceptible to disease following exposure to 0.3- and 11.5-g/L suspended volcanic ash. The response was dose dependent. Exposure of juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to thermal shock did not result in increased susceptibility to disease. In several tests, thermally exposed fish were less susceptible to disease than control fish.