Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) of salmonids has been implicated in the decline of trout populations in Swiss rivers. PKD only develops in fish in sites where summer temperatures reach above 15ºC. The River Wigger clearly shows a pattern of increasing PKD prevalence in lower altitude sections of the river (see the map below, with red triangles denoting presence of PKD in trout, the green circles shows sites negative for PKD in trout).
PKD is caused by a myxozoan parasite which infects freshwater bryozoans, spores released from this aquatic, sessile colonial invertebrate infect trout. Monitoring populations of trout requires electrofishing and is time consuming and expensive. Bryozoan often use cryptic habitats and are difficult to detect using traditional survey methods (e.g kicksampling). Environmental DNA may provide a useful tool for detecting and quantifying the parasite and both hosts in water samples. This project would involve both field work and molecular laboratory work. The first step would be designing and implementing a sampling program to collect 1L water samples across the Wigger catchment. Molecular techniques would be used to detect and quantify the parasite and the hosts in water samples. Training will be provided in filtering, DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR and sequencing. Calibration of eDNA sampling would involve targeted field surveys for bryozoans and comparison to previous data from fish surveys. Lab experiments to quantify the detection limits of the eDNA approach can also be conducted, depending on the duration of the project. This project would require driving so valid drivers licence is essential.
Proliferative Kidney Disease (PKD) of salmonids has been implicated in the decline of trout populations in Swiss rivers. PKD only develops in fish in sites where summer temperatures reach above 15ºC. The River Wigger clearly shows a pattern of increasing PKD prevalence in lower altitude sections of the river (see the map below, with red triangles denoting presence of PKD in trout, the green circles shows sites negative for PKD in trout). PKD is caused by a myxozoan parasite which infects freshwater bryozoans, spores released from this aquatic, sessile colonial invertebrate infect trout. Monitoring populations of trout requires electrofishing and is time consuming and expensive. Bryozoan often use cryptic habitats and are difficult to detect using traditional survey methods (e.g kicksampling). Environmental DNA may provide a useful tool for detecting and quantifying the parasite and both hosts in water samples. This project would involve both field work and molecular laboratory work. The first step would be designing and implementing a sampling program to collect 1L water samples across the Wigger catchment. Molecular techniques would be used to detect and quantify the parasite and the hosts in water samples. Training will be provided in filtering, DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR and sequencing. Calibration of eDNA sampling would involve targeted field surveys for bryozoans and comparison to previous data from fish surveys. Lab experiments to quantify the detection limits of the eDNA approach can also be conducted, depending on the duration of the project. This project would require driving so valid drivers licence is essential.
