bigfish1965
05-02-2003, 06:57 PM
Please excuse this alert if it has been posted here already. I'm mainly a walleye guy, but when I read this report from our MNR, I thought I should pass the info along to you guys and gals. Hopefully, this problem can be contained.
By DAVE JOHNSON
Welland Tribune
PORT COLBORNE - The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is asking anglers who fish for musky to keep a close eye on any of the fish they catch for signs of a new disease.
Luca Cargnelli, a management biologist with ministry’s Lake Erie Management Unit, told
anglers at a meeting Tuesday night in Port Colborne a new disease has been found on musky
in the north-west area of Lake St. Clair.
The disease, called Piscirickettia, was spotted by U.S. anglers and investigated by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Cargnelli said the disease shows up as red sores on the fish.
“The sores are anywhere from three millimetres to two centimetres in diameter and have raised
bumps, are pink-red in colour and there are no marks on the scales.”
He said it appears different from the marks of sea lampreys, which attach themselves to
various fish species through a mouth full of teeth.
Cargnelli said various fungi and bacteria, typical of infections, have been found in the sores on the musky.
The Piscirickettia is related to Piscirickettia Salmonis, a disease found throughout Europe and
North and South America in aquaculture operations.
“This is a new disease in Lake St. Clair and has only been found there,“ he explained. ”We
don’t know how widespread it is, it’s source, if it causes mortality and whether it can spread to
other species.”
No signs of the disease have been spotted in Lake Erie, but the ministry is trying to make people aware of it through flyers and other means.
Musky can be found in Lake Erie, especially in the area of the Upper Niagara River.
Cargnelli asked anyone who spots signs of the disease to report to the ministry right away.
By DAVE JOHNSON
Welland Tribune
PORT COLBORNE - The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is asking anglers who fish for musky to keep a close eye on any of the fish they catch for signs of a new disease.
Luca Cargnelli, a management biologist with ministry’s Lake Erie Management Unit, told
anglers at a meeting Tuesday night in Port Colborne a new disease has been found on musky
in the north-west area of Lake St. Clair.
The disease, called Piscirickettia, was spotted by U.S. anglers and investigated by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Cargnelli said the disease shows up as red sores on the fish.
“The sores are anywhere from three millimetres to two centimetres in diameter and have raised
bumps, are pink-red in colour and there are no marks on the scales.”
He said it appears different from the marks of sea lampreys, which attach themselves to
various fish species through a mouth full of teeth.
Cargnelli said various fungi and bacteria, typical of infections, have been found in the sores on the musky.
The Piscirickettia is related to Piscirickettia Salmonis, a disease found throughout Europe and
North and South America in aquaculture operations.
“This is a new disease in Lake St. Clair and has only been found there,“ he explained. ”We
don’t know how widespread it is, it’s source, if it causes mortality and whether it can spread to
other species.”
No signs of the disease have been spotted in Lake Erie, but the ministry is trying to make people aware of it through flyers and other means.
Musky can be found in Lake Erie, especially in the area of the Upper Niagara River.
Cargnelli asked anyone who spots signs of the disease to report to the ministry right away.