Bio-based approaches for the prevention and treatment of fungus (Saprolegnia parasitica) in fish.

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According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, disease outbreaks are being increasingly recognized as a significant constraint to aquaculture production and trade, and are affecting economic development of the sector in many countries of the world. Fungal diseases are the second largest cause of mortality in aquaculture, particularly in the cultivation of shellfish and fish species. One of most destructive pathogens and that having the greatest economic impact in freshwater aquaculture sectors is the fungus Saprolegnia parasitica. Evidence suggests widespread infection in most freshwater fish species; left untreated, saprolegniosis can quickly escalate, resulting in up to 50% mortalities of a given population. New restrictions on the use of chemicals used to prevent and treat fungal infections has lead to the need for new alternative products to control saprolegniosis. The current proposal seeks to apply novel approaches to treat and prevent fungal infections using beneficial microbial cultures and or phytochemicals derived from boreal forest biomass. The identification of novel natural compounds that can be used to treat and/or prevent the transmission of pathogens would provide aquaculture producers additional management approaches for disease prevention and control, and permit the industry to pusue environmentally-sound technologies to permit production ofsafe, healthy products for Canadian consumers.