First record of Flavobacterium psychrophilum infection in the sea lamprey (petromyzon marinus) from lake Ontario [electronic resource].

Includes references.

During health inspection of a group of sea lampreys, collected from Lake Ontario, for their suitability to relocation within the Great Lakes basin, many of the examined lampreys exhibited different forms of skin lesions that ranged from simple skin erosions, severe skin darkening, deep fin rot and ulcerations. Most of the lampreys were lethargic with remarkable lesions in the eyes and nostrils. Despite the fact that Flavobacterium psychrophilum is a salmonid specific pathogen, the current study provides the evidence that sea lamprey is a new host range for this pathogen. From the nostrils and skin ulcers of affected lampreys, F. psychrophilum were retrieved and further characterized using both conventional biochemical and molecular techniques. Thus, it is highly probable that sea lamprey can play a role in the temporal and spatial spread of F. psychrophilum to the salmon¬ids residing in the Great Lakes basin.

Summary in Arabic.

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