Biocontrol of Proliferative Gill Disease using Gambusia

Photo of catfish with Proliferative Gill Disease (PGD), noted by swollen and fused gill lamellae. Photo Credit R. M. Durborow.

Proliferative Gill Disease (PGD) is a prominant disease concern in catfish aquaculture of the southeastern United States and is the third leading disease found in the Delta region of Mississippi. In an effort to mitigate the effects of PGD, we have evaluated the efficacy of stocking Gambusia spp. at various densities to serve as a dead-end host for the Henneguya ictaluri parasite. Previous research has shown that fish mucous from multiple species can activate attachment of the parasite, even if the fish is not a viable host.

Bradley M. Richardson
Bradley M. Richardson
Research Fish Biologist

My research interests include aquatic ecology, species interactions, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and freshwater fishes.

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