Effects of ploidy and salmonid alphavirus infection on the skin and gill microbiome of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243684
• Publication Date: 2021-02-20T03:06:31Z
• Authors: Ryan Brown; Lindsey Moore; Amir Mani; Sonal Patel; Irene Salinas
• Keywords: Gills; 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Alphavirus Infections; Science; Microbiota; Q; Salmo salar; R; Alphavirus; Aquaculture; Diploidy; Triploidy; 3. Good health; Fish Diseases; 03 medical and health sciences; Medicine; Animals; 14. Life underwater; Research Article; Skin

The microbial communities that live in symbiosis with the mucosal surfaces of animals provide host defense strategies against pathogens. These are largely shaped by environment and genetics. Triploid Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) being considered for aquaculture as they reproductively sterile thus cannot contaminate natural gene pool. It has not been previously investigated how microbiome triploid compares to their diploid counterparts. In this study, we compare steady-state skin gill both salmon, determine effects salmonid alphavirus 3 experimental infection on composition. Our results show limited differences skin-associated between irrespective infection. gills, observed a high incidence bacterial pathogen Candidatus Branchiomonas , higher abundance compared control fish. Diploid infected SAV3 showed greater histopathological signs epitheliocystis controls, phenomenon indicate ploidy can affect alpha diversity gills but community. Importantly, during outbreak sp. became significantly more dominated than animals. Thus, our suggest may play role health insights into co-infection C . salmon.