The journey of the salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, a parasite of farmed Atlantic salmon from Norway to Turkey via import

ABSTRACT

Lepeophtheirus salmonis was collected from the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in Turkey. It is known as the salmon louse. It was obtained from fish samples that were farmed in Norway and imported to Turkey. Although it has not been proven that the salmon louse carries zoonotic or any pathogens, attention should be paid to biosecurity measures and hygiene rules in product trade among countries. This study demonstrates that the fish louse, even dead, travels between countries. In addition, Lepeophtheirus europaensis was collected from the turbot and the brill during the project to monitor demersal fish from Turkey. L. europaensis was diagnosed on wild fish in this study; it is important to know the diversity of parasites in terms of taking precautions against possible future diseases, since the farming of these fish is carried out in Turkey. L. europaensis was also reported for the first time on turbot and brill in Turkey.

KEYWORDS:

• Lepeophtheirus
• Atlantic salmon
• sea louse
• turbot
• import

Acknowledgments

Lepeophtheirus europaensis samples were obtained during a project (TAGEM/HAYSUD/2014/05/01) conducted by the Sheep Research Institute of Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock of Türkiye.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock of Türkiye [TAGEM/HAYSUD/2014/05/01].