Virulence of Selected Salmonid-Pathogenic Bacteria in Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus)

Recently, interest in intensive culture of Arctic Char has increased in more southern geographic areas and where water temperatures are warmer. Presently, two commercial growers are culturing Arctic char in West Virginia.

The Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, WV has begun projects to evaluate the feasibility for rearing Arctic char in recycle systems in southern regions. Information regarding the diseases affecting Arctic char, and of the susceptibilities of char to major infectious salmonid bacterial pathogens is very limited. Renibacterium salmoninarum has been detected and bacterial kidney disease was diagnosed in free ranging, wild populations in the Northwest Territories in Canada.