%0 Journal Article
%T Original observations of Desmozoon lepeophtherii, a microsporidian hyperparasite infecting the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis, and its subsequent detection by other researchers
%A Mark A Freeman
%A Christina Sommerville
%J Parasites & Vectors
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-3305-4-231
%X The microsporidian hyperparasite Desmozoon lepeophtherii was originally discovered in Scotland during a PhD programme carried out at the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, between October 1998 and September 2002. The primary objective of the research was to screen parasitic copepods (salmon lice) infecting farmed and wild Atlantic salmon for potential microbial candidates that could be evaluated for use in alternative control strategies. The study was jointly funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Scottish Salmon Growers Association (SSGA), now the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO).A microsporidian was first isolated from the salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, infecting farmed Atlantic salmon from Western Scotland in December 2000 [1]. The characteristic gross pathology observed in microsporidian-infected salmon lice had, however, been observed during previous lice collections from farmed salmon in 1999 and early 2000, but was not confirmed as a microsporidian hyperparasite until December 2000 [1]. Lepeophtheirus salmonis exhibiting the clinical signs of microsporidiosis, i.e. numerous opaque internal inclusions distributed throughout the body, were found at three of fifteen farm sites sampled between 13/10/1998 and 15/05/2002 [1]. The number of L. salmonis infected with the microsporidian per farm site varied between 1% and 10%, with an average of 5% of adult female L. salmonis having the microsporidian infection when present at the farm site. Infection with the microsporidian in female salmon lice was often associated with poorly developed or aborted egg strings [1,2]. When the microsporidian was present in adult female L. salmonis, adult male lice from the same population were also infected with a similar prevalence [1]. One site that was known to harbour microsporidian-infected L. salmonis was sampled 17 times over a 22 month period, but no clear seasonal trend in occurrence emerged [1
%K Desmozoon
%K Paranucleospora
%K Lepeophtheirus
%K Microsporidian
%K Copepod
%K opportunistic
%K Immunocompromised
%K Grilse
%U http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/4/1/231