Vertebral abnormalities in free-living Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, Walbaum) in New Zealand

Peter S. Davie, Seumas P. Walker, Matthew R. Perrott, Jane E. Symonds, Mark Preece, Adelbert De Clercq, John S. Munday

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

Abstract

Spinal abnormalities are common in farmed Chinook Salmon in New Zealand. We report spinal abnormalities in adult Chinook salmon which were predominantly hatchery reared and released as smolts and which we term free-living. We compare these to rates seen in farmed New Zealand salmon. 101 free-living adult salmon were radiographically assessed for spinal curvatures (lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis; LKS) and other vertebral abnormalities. Severity of abnormality was assessed on a three-point scale. Abnormal vertebral bodies were detected in 88.1% of free-living salmon. Spinal curvatures were the most common abnormality type with 83.2% of fish showing this abnormality but only one free-living Chinook had LKS of severity greater than 1. Farmed Chinook salmon are reported to have LKS rates of 29% with 18% of LKS abnormalities of severity greater than 1. These results suggest that free-living Chinook salmon frequently develop spinal abnormalities, but these abnormalities are less severe than those observed in farmed salmon.
Original languageEnglish
JournalNew Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research
Volume52
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)444-456
Number of pages13
ISSN0028-8330
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4-Apr-2018
Externally publishedYes

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