Proliferative Gill Disease
Andy Goodwin

In a project funded by the CPB, the UAPB disease laboratories in Lake Village and Pine Bluff are collaborating to discover new and better ways to eliminate populations of dero worms, the intermediate hosts of the catfish disease PGD (“hamburger gill”). The UAPB lab is culturing the worms and working on chemical treatments. The Lake Village lab is doing field trials in microcosms.

VTC Disease
Andy Goodwin

Visceral Toxicosis of Catfish is a very significant disease of channel catfish leading to losses of almost 2 million pounds of fish in Arkansas in the Spring of 2008. It has been shown by other researchers that the cause of the disease is botulism, but the source of the toxin was unknown. We developed new techniques to study VTC and have shown that the toxin forms in dead fish and that new fish are afflicted when they consume those fish. We are now pursuing additional studies to look for ways for farmers to manage or prevent VTC.

VHS in Warmer Climates
Andy Goodwin  

VHS virus is a very important new pathogen affecting wild fish in the Great Lakes. Thus far, all outbreaks have occurred in cool water in cool seasons. We are currently in the middle of a large study that will determine whether or not VHS virus will be able to invade and become established in the southern half of the US. This is information that is critically needed so that farmers and regulators will know how to best direct limited funds available for testing and surveillance, and will provide a basis for regulatory decisions.