The influence of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg 1957 (Monogenea) on the epidermis of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill): experimental studies.

The effect of Gyrodactylus salaris on the epidermal structure of hatchery-reared brook trout parr and Norwegian Atlantic salmon parr was evaluated. Both species were initially susceptible to this parasite, but whereas populations on salmon increased until the host died, brook trout responded to, and eventually eliminated, their infections. Salmon skin samples taken 14 days p.i. showed a reduced mucous cell concentration (less than 1500 cells mm-2 on the head compared with 2000 cells mm-2 in controls; the same trend was also seen in other sites) and the epidermis was thinner (48 μm compared with 60 μm on pectoral fins; similar trend seen in other sites) than in uninfected controls kept under identical conditions. Brook trout skin samples were taken 50 days p.i., when the hosts had responded to, and almost eliminated, their infections. No change was then observed in mucous cell density, while the number of epidermal cell layers and the epidermal thickness of brook trout had increased slightly following infection. These results are related to the nature of the host response, and the thinning of the epidermis and loss of mucous cells may in some way be related to the inability of Norwegian salmon parr to respond to the parasite.