Occurrence of Piscine Erythrocytic Necrosis (PEN) in the Blood of the Anadromous Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, from Maine Coastal Streams
- 1 February 1977
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada
- Vol. 34 (2) , 281-286
- https://doi.org/10.1139/f77-043
Abstract
PEN is reported in the blood of anadromous alewives, A. pseudoharengus from Maine [USA] coastal streams in 1975. This was the 1st time PEN was found in any pelagic anadromous fish. Of 991 alewives collected in 21 samples, 56.1% (371/661) of the prespawning and 10.5% (6/57) of the postspawning alewives had PEN. Within an individual the greatest number of infected red cells was 0.17% (1/600). PEN was not found in 273 juveniles sampled from streams where PEN was evident in pre- and/or postspawners. The difference in infection rates between prespawners, postspawners and juveniles may be due to latent or acquired infections. Since alewife PEN resembles that of cod, it may be viral and the possibility exists that other species may be infected. Management practices in which alewives are transferred from one stream to another for the development and maintenance of commercial runs may contribute to the spread of PEN.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Viral Nature of Piscine Erythrocytic Necrosis (PEN) in the Blood of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 1976