Isolation of a Loma salmonae variant: biological characteristics and host range

A Salvelinus-infecting variant of Loma salmonae, derived from naturally-inf ected Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha by serial passage through bro ok trout Salvelinus fontinalis. has been isolated and amplified. Loma salmo nae SV (Salvelinus-variant) has a high preference for species of Salvelinus (brook trout and Arctic charr S. alpinus) and low virulence and preference for species of Oncorhynchus (rainbow trout O. mykiss, Chinook salmon, coho salmon O. kisutch) or Salmo (Atlantic salmon Salmo salar). Although this v ariant of L. salmonae was different from the original, the differences do n ot justify describing, it as a new species, although definitive determinati on is pending. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.