This is Gael Kurath at her retirement party. Viruses and infectious diseases are natural components of every ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen of many salmonid fish populations.
Gael Kurath, Ph.D. (Former Employee)
Science and Products
Investigation and Disease Prevention of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCV)
There has been long history of disease outbreaks and economic losses in wild and farmed carp species due to SVCV. Formerly thought to be restricted to Europe and Asia, SVCV was detected for the first time in North America from diseased koi at a North Carolina fish farm in 2002, and there were extensive eradication efforts with 135,000 fish euthanized in addition to the ~15,000 that died from the...
Reference Laboratory Service - FHP
The Fish Health Section provides reference laboratory services to identify viral pathogens submitted by staff from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) fish health laboratory.
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Fish Diseases - Emerging Viruses
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
Koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) - FHP
Species Studied - Koi ( Cyprinus carpio koi )
Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) - FHP
Species Studied - Yellow Perch ( Perca flavescens )
Gael Kurath's Retirement Party
This is Gael Kurath at her retirement party. Viruses and infectious diseases are natural components of every ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen of many salmonid fish populations.
Joanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle weblab
linkJoanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett, conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle wetlab. Our scientists are collaborating with the fisheries staff from the Spokane Tribe and Coeur d'Alene Tribe in a study to determine how susceptible Redband trout are to IHN virus (infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus).
Joanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle weblab
linkJoanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett, conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle wetlab. Our scientists are collaborating with the fisheries staff from the Spokane Tribe and Coeur d'Alene Tribe in a study to determine how susceptible Redband trout are to IHN virus (infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus).
Researchers processing fish samples in Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS) wet laboratory
(Left to Right) Bill Batts, Joanna Salzer, and Dr. Jee Youn Hwang sample fish during a swim performance trial. Once fish have completed swim trials they are euthanized and kept fresh on ice. Sampling includes length and weight measurements, and collection of a small portion of tissues to confirm the presence of virus.
(Left to Right) Bill Batts, Joanna Salzer, and Dr. Jee Youn Hwang sample fish during a swim performance trial. Once fish have completed swim trials they are euthanized and kept fresh on ice. Sampling includes length and weight measurements, and collection of a small portion of tissues to confirm the presence of virus.
Conditioning of fish in swim flume
(Left to Right) Dr. David Paez, Joanna Salzer, Dr. Jee Youn Hwang and Bill Batts observe as Chinook salmon are conditioned in the swim flume prior to swim performance trials.
(Left to Right) Dr. David Paez, Joanna Salzer, Dr. Jee Youn Hwang and Bill Batts observe as Chinook salmon are conditioned in the swim flume prior to swim performance trials.
Chinook Salmon swimming in swim flume
Chinook salmon orient into the water current of the swim flume during a performance trial.
Chinook salmon orient into the water current of the swim flume during a performance trial.
Researcher preparing to sample fish from swim flume
Dr. David Paez observes as Chinook salmon undergo a swim performance trial. Water velocity in the swim chamber is increased over a prescribed period to determine time of exhaustion for each individual fish. Virus-exposed and healthy control fish are swum together in a small group and must be watched carefully.
Dr. David Paez observes as Chinook salmon undergo a swim performance trial. Water velocity in the swim chamber is increased over a prescribed period to determine time of exhaustion for each individual fish. Virus-exposed and healthy control fish are swum together in a small group and must be watched carefully.
Collecting tissues from fish for testing virus infection
Fish health principle investigators, students, post-docs, and technicians from different research groups work together as a fish processing team on days when large numbers of fish require sampling. They are collecting multiple tissues from each fish for testing virus infection and host immune response.
Fish health principle investigators, students, post-docs, and technicians from different research groups work together as a fish processing team on days when large numbers of fish require sampling. They are collecting multiple tissues from each fish for testing virus infection and host immune response.
Measuring virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wetlab.
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wetlab.
Working in wet laboratory at the WFRC
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wet lab. Doug McKenney, USGS volunteer is assisting.
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wet lab. Doug McKenney, USGS volunteer is assisting.
Science and Products
Investigation and Disease Prevention of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus (SVCV)
There has been long history of disease outbreaks and economic losses in wild and farmed carp species due to SVCV. Formerly thought to be restricted to Europe and Asia, SVCV was detected for the first time in North America from diseased koi at a North Carolina fish farm in 2002, and there were extensive eradication efforts with 135,000 fish euthanized in addition to the ~15,000 that died from the...
Reference Laboratory Service - FHP
The Fish Health Section provides reference laboratory services to identify viral pathogens submitted by staff from the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) fish health laboratory.
Emerging Viruses - FHP
Fish Diseases - Emerging Viruses
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) - FHP
Fish Diseases - Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)
Koi (Cyprinus carpio koi) - FHP
Species Studied - Koi ( Cyprinus carpio koi )
Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) - FHP
Species Studied - Yellow Perch ( Perca flavescens )
Gael Kurath's Retirement Party
This is Gael Kurath at her retirement party. Viruses and infectious diseases are natural components of every ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen of many salmonid fish populations.
This is Gael Kurath at her retirement party. Viruses and infectious diseases are natural components of every ecosystem. In aquatic ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen of many salmonid fish populations.
Joanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle weblab
linkJoanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett, conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle wetlab. Our scientists are collaborating with the fisheries staff from the Spokane Tribe and Coeur d'Alene Tribe in a study to determine how susceptible Redband trout are to IHN virus (infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus).
Joanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle weblab
linkJoanne Salzer and Spokane Tribal intern, Justine Flett, conducting virus exposures in the WFRC Seattle wetlab. Our scientists are collaborating with the fisheries staff from the Spokane Tribe and Coeur d'Alene Tribe in a study to determine how susceptible Redband trout are to IHN virus (infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus).
Researchers processing fish samples in Marrowstone Marine Field Station (MMFS) wet laboratory
(Left to Right) Bill Batts, Joanna Salzer, and Dr. Jee Youn Hwang sample fish during a swim performance trial. Once fish have completed swim trials they are euthanized and kept fresh on ice. Sampling includes length and weight measurements, and collection of a small portion of tissues to confirm the presence of virus.
(Left to Right) Bill Batts, Joanna Salzer, and Dr. Jee Youn Hwang sample fish during a swim performance trial. Once fish have completed swim trials they are euthanized and kept fresh on ice. Sampling includes length and weight measurements, and collection of a small portion of tissues to confirm the presence of virus.
Conditioning of fish in swim flume
(Left to Right) Dr. David Paez, Joanna Salzer, Dr. Jee Youn Hwang and Bill Batts observe as Chinook salmon are conditioned in the swim flume prior to swim performance trials.
(Left to Right) Dr. David Paez, Joanna Salzer, Dr. Jee Youn Hwang and Bill Batts observe as Chinook salmon are conditioned in the swim flume prior to swim performance trials.
Chinook Salmon swimming in swim flume
Chinook salmon orient into the water current of the swim flume during a performance trial.
Chinook salmon orient into the water current of the swim flume during a performance trial.
Researcher preparing to sample fish from swim flume
Dr. David Paez observes as Chinook salmon undergo a swim performance trial. Water velocity in the swim chamber is increased over a prescribed period to determine time of exhaustion for each individual fish. Virus-exposed and healthy control fish are swum together in a small group and must be watched carefully.
Dr. David Paez observes as Chinook salmon undergo a swim performance trial. Water velocity in the swim chamber is increased over a prescribed period to determine time of exhaustion for each individual fish. Virus-exposed and healthy control fish are swum together in a small group and must be watched carefully.
Collecting tissues from fish for testing virus infection
Fish health principle investigators, students, post-docs, and technicians from different research groups work together as a fish processing team on days when large numbers of fish require sampling. They are collecting multiple tissues from each fish for testing virus infection and host immune response.
Fish health principle investigators, students, post-docs, and technicians from different research groups work together as a fish processing team on days when large numbers of fish require sampling. They are collecting multiple tissues from each fish for testing virus infection and host immune response.
Measuring virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wetlab.
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wetlab.
Working in wet laboratory at the WFRC
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wet lab. Doug McKenney, USGS volunteer is assisting.
Graduate student Daniel Hernandez, from the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, measures virus for a Chinook salmon infection experiment in the WFRC wet lab. Doug McKenney, USGS volunteer is assisting.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government