DAO 100:77-81 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02492

ABSTRACT: We present experimental data on susceptibility to columnaris disease, caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare, in hybrid catfish (female channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male blue catfish I. furcatus) (C×B). Under our experimental conditions, C×B hybrids were significantly more resistant to columnaris disease caused by the highly virulent strain of F. columnare BGFS-27 (genomovar II) than channel catfish and blue catfish. Channel and blue catfish cumulative mortalities after immersion challenge were 74 and 87%, respectively, whereas mortality in the C×B hybrid was 31%. Susceptibility to the strain ARS-1 (genomovar I) was lower among all catfishes, although channel catfish was the least resistant species at 32% cumulative mortality. By contrast, C×B hybrid and blue catfishes were strongly resistant to the ARS-1 strain, with <10% mortality. Our data suggest enhanced disease resistance of the C×B hybrid to columnaris disease.

KEY WORDS: Channel catfish · Blue catfish · Flavobacterium columnare

Full text in pdf format

Cite this article as: Arias CR, Cai W, Peatman E, Bullard SA (2012) Catfish hybrid Ictalurus punctatus × I. furcatus exhibits higher resistance to columnaris disease than the parental species. Dis Aquat Org 100:77-81. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02492 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn