Preliminary studies on the isolation of bacteria from sea lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, infecting farmed salmon in British Columbia, Canada

Using standard OIE bacteriological screening protocols, we sampled the external carapace and internal stomach contents of motile stages (preadult and adult) of Lepeophtheirus salmonis collected from farmed Atlantic salmon from May 2007 to April 2008 in British Columbia, Canada. Three potentially pathogenic bacteria (Tenacibaculum maritimum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Vibrio spp.) were isolated from external (58-100%) and internal (12.5-100%) samples of sea lice. The prevalence of bacteria was higher from lice collected during the months with higher water temperatures and among adult lice. These preliminary results have led to a comprehensive, multi-year study where we plan to examine the possible role of sea lice as a vector for disease.