Idaho Fish Health Management

In March 2010 EFHL the project sponsor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game. purchased a Bio-Rad thermocycler, 96-well reaction module for the thermocycler, Leica Digital Microscope camera, camera adaption equipment and a used demonstrator control computer for the camera. These were all the items approved for purchase as part of the project funded by PCSRF. Since that time the thermocycler has been used to perform PCR testing for IHNV [Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus] virus in returned adult and juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon. It has been especially helpful due to the emergence in new areas, in Idaho, of a new clade or strain of IHNV. This is a newer “hotter” strain and requires our programs to be diligent in their biosecurity. This new equipment has allowed the EFHL to produce results with more confidence because the new thermocycler was functioning correctly.

EFHL has used the thermocycler to more accurately test for presence of Parvicapsula and Nucleospora salmonis in our anadromous populations. This piece of lab equipment was also used as part of a clinical trial, in our wet lab, measuring the effect of new drugs to treat for BKD [Bacterial Kidney Disease] in hatchery juvenile Chinook salmon.
The digital microscope camera is being used to document pathogens but also it has allowed us to produce pictures of pathogens for educational and demonstrative purposes to as part of educational information transfer to our [IDFG] hatchery personnel. It is also very useful for producing pathogen images that can then be put into presentations such as the EFHL staff presentations done at our [IDFG] hatchery manager meeting this June 2010

The actual project performance relative to all NOAA Fisheries performance measures is:
Enhanced disease surveillance and diagnostics to improve fish health and anadromous fisheries.

This project will benefit ESA-listed steelhead and salmon in Idaho by providing the Eagle Fish Health Lab with current technology and equipment to assist in the detection and treatment of a wide range of fish pathogens (viral, bacterial, parasitic) that currently impact both wild and cultured salmonids in Idaho.
The Eagle Fish Health Lab provides fish health services for all anadromous salmon and steelhead hatcheries in Idaho and routinely processes fish health samples from both wild and cultured salmonids to help aid in the production, survival, and management of listed stocks.
On a larger scale, the Eagle Fish Health Lab cooperates in a range of Regional fish health management forums and routinely contributes valuable data and analyses to help identify and manage current and emerging fish pathogens and aquatic nuisance species of the Pacific Northwest.