Sea lice are an ectoparasite of Atlantic salmon, Ectoparasites are parasites that feed on the host externally. Sea lice feed on the mucus and blood of the salmon host causing damage to the gills and epidermis of the host. In high enough numbers sea lice can cause death of the salmon. Sea lice also cause an economic loss as fish damaged by sea lice are devalued and represent one of the greatest threats to salmon aquaculture.
In terms of potential practical implications, this project involves the research of potential vaccines for sea lice in the aquaculture industry. Vaccines would be the ideal solution to the parasite infection rather than current chemical treatments.
The Marine Institute, Ireland
Pablo Rojas, Dr Elaine McCarthy and Dores Maguire
