Project Information

Title: HRM Program: Herring Disease Program 12120111-K

Project Year and Number: 2012: 12120111-K

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2023: 23120111-E , 2022: 22120111-E , 2021: 21120111-E, 2020: 20120111-E, 2019: 19120111-E, 2018: 18120111-E, 2017: 17120111-E, 2016: 16120111-K, 2015: 15120111-K, 2014: 14120111-K, 2013: 13120111-K

Principal Investigator (PI): Paul Hershberger

Managing Agency: USGS

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://pwssc.org/herring-disease-research/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Pacific Herring

Abstract:

The Herring Disease Program (HDP) is part of a larger integrated effort, Prince William Sound Research and Monitoring (outlined in a separated proposal by Dr. Scott Pegau). Within this integrated effort, the HDP is intended to evaluate the impact of infectious and parasitic diseases on the failed recovery of the PWS herring population. The framework for the 2012 – 2016 HDP involves a combination of field surveillance efforts, field-based disease process studies, and laboratory-based controlled studies. Field surveillance efforts will provide continued and expanded infection and disease prevalence data for herring populations in Prince William Sound (PWS), Sitka Sound, and Puget Sound. Additionally, samples from field surveillance efforts will be processed using newly developed disease forecasting tools to provide annual risk assessments that quantify the potential for future disease epizootics. Laboratory-based empirical studies will provide an understanding of cause-and effect epidemiological relationships between the host, pathogen, and environment; understanding of these relationships represents a first step towards developing additional disease forecasting tools. Specific emphasis will be placed on refining our understanding disease processes specific to viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) and ichthyophoniasis, two primary diseases of herring in PWS. Additionally, a novel diagnostic tool for Ichthyophonus, a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probe, will be developed.


Proposal: View (400 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY12: View (1,112 KB)
Final Report: See Project 16120111-K

Publications from this Project: None Available