A PhD student has been awarded an aquaculture bursary by MSD Animal Health UK to complete his research into red mark syndrome in trout.
Veterinary surgeon, Massimo Orioles, is studying for his PhD at the University of Udine in Italy, where the additional funding will enable Massimo to complete the final stage of his project.
“I am hugely grateful to have been selected for this bursary, as the contribution from MSD Animal Health means that I can continue and complete the project,” said Massimo.
Red mark syndrome is a common disease facing rainbow trout farmers. So far no one has established its causes, making it difficult to know how best to prevent and treat it. Mortality rates are not particularly high, but around 30% of produce is downgraded as a result.
Massimo hopes to identify whether temperature affects the development of the disease. As fish usually experience changing temperatures during growth stages, findings could then help farmers to decide on different temperature strategies to combat the disease.
The first stage of the project, which has already been completed, involved a number of different elements, including placing infected fish in three different temperature tanks. The next part of the study will involve following the development of infection before assessing the fish via electronic microscopy analysis to see how temperature has impacted disease transmission.
