**The title, authors, and abstract for this completion report are provided below.  For a copy of the completion report, please contact the GLFC via e-mail or via telephone at 734-662-3209**

 

 

Epizootic Epitheliotropic Disease (EED) of lake trout:

Detection and identification of the causative virus(EEDV)

  

Philip E. McAllister¹ and William B. Schill

 

¹US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center,

National Fish Health Research Laboratory

11649 Leetown Road

Kearneysville, WV 25430

 

phil_mcallister@usgs.gov (304-724-4441)

bane_schill@usgs.gov (304-724-4438)

 

  

Abstract

 

The project aimed to develop and evaluate cell culture and molecular probe methodologies for the detection and identification of the causative virus of epizootic epitheliotropic disease (EED) of lake trout.  Cell cultures were developed from lake trout fingerling epidermal tissue associated with skin, fins, and eye.  A spectrum of cell types were derived and survived in culture.  Cell types were segregated by differential enzyme treatment and attempts were made to clone cell types.  Attempts to develop cell cultures from undifferentiated embryonic cells and developing embryos were hampered by fecundity issues. 

 

The study was cancelled mid-way through its schedule when we learned that the fish used to putatively recover EEDV from archived material carried an atypical Aeromonas salmonicida infection whose clinical presentation mimicked EED.  We had relied on clinical presentation as an indicator of EEDV infection.  Subsequent challenges of young-of-the-year lake trout from another source were unsuccessful in producing EEDV infection.  Thus, while we thought we had recovered EEDV from archived material, in fact, we had not and did not have the clinical material to continue the study.