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Fish Health Program (FHP)

The Fish Health Program conducts science focused on understanding the control, distribution and severity of infectious diseases affecting hatchery and wild fish. Our research projects are national and international in scope but have a major focus on fish health issues in the western landscapes of the Columbia River, Puget Sound and Klamath Basin.

News

Institutional Biosafety Committee Meeting - February 7, 2024

Institutional Biosafety Committee Meeting - February 7, 2024

Something Fishy from the Western Fisheries Research Center – Winter 2023

Something Fishy from the Western Fisheries Research Center – Winter 2023

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Hershberger for Winning this Issue’s Photo Contest!

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Hershberger for Winning this Issue’s Photo Contest!

Publications

A new sturgeon herpesvirus from juvenile Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens displaying epithelial skin lesions

Herpesvirus infections of sturgeon pose a potential threat to sturgeon culture efforts worldwide. A new epitheliotropic herpesvirus named Acipenser herpesvirus 3 (AciHV-3) was detected in hatchery-reared Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens displaying skin lesions in central Canada. The growths were discovered in the fall, reached average prevalence levels of 0.2–40% and eventually regressed. No unu
Authors
Sharon Clouthier, Marek Tomczyk, Tamara Schroeder, Cheryl Klassen, André Dufresne, Eveline J. Emmenegger, Thomas Nalpathamkalam, Zhuozhi Wang, Bhooma Thiruvahindrapuram

Tire-derived transformation product 6PPD-quinone induces mortality and transcriptionally disrupts vascular permeability pathways in developing coho salmon

Urban stormwater runoff frequently contains the car tire transformation product 6PPD-quinone, which is highly toxic to juvenile and adult coho salmon (Onchorychus kisutch). However, it is currently unclear if embryonic stages are impacted. We addressed this by exposing developing coho salmon embryos starting at the eyed stage to three concentrations of 6PPD-quinone twice weekly until hatch. Impact
Authors
Justin Blaine Greer, Ellie Maureen Dalsky, Rachael F. Lane, John Hansen

Susceptibility of Pallid Sturgeon to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus genotype IVb

ObjectiveViral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is an aquatic rhabdovirus causing severe disease in freshwater and saltwater fish species. The susceptibility of endangered Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus to VHSV genotype IVb (VHSV-IVb) infection was investigated.MethodsAn in vitro assessment using two Pallid Sturgeon cell lines derived from skin and spleen tissue and in vivo evaluation of
Authors
Lacey R. Hopper, Jolene A. Glenn, Elizabeth MacConnell, James Winton, Eveline J. Emmenegger

Science

Partners - FHP

For more than five decades the WFRC Fish Health Program has worked with partners to provide research findings to managers of aquatic resources. Those partners form a network of colleagues, co-investigators, and customers. Our partners include Department of the Interior bureaus, tribal and state fisheries agencies, other federal partners and the private sector.
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Partners - FHP

For more than five decades the WFRC Fish Health Program has worked with partners to provide research findings to managers of aquatic resources. Those partners form a network of colleagues, co-investigators, and customers. Our partners include Department of the Interior bureaus, tribal and state fisheries agencies, other federal partners and the private sector.
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Fish Health Program Lead Scientists and Areas of Expertise

Lead Scientists - Expertise
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Species Studied by the Fish Health Program

List of species studied by the Fish Health Program. These species include bacteria, fish, parasites, and viruses. The list contains both common and scientific names. Descriptions of species and studies can be found under the "Related Science" tab.
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Species Studied by the Fish Health Program

List of species studied by the Fish Health Program. These species include bacteria, fish, parasites, and viruses. The list contains both common and scientific names. Descriptions of species and studies can be found under the "Related Science" tab.
Learn More