Evaluation of Rainbow Trout as a Model for use in Studies on Pathogenesis of the Branchial Microsporidian Loma salmonae.

Loma salmonae is an economically important gill microsporidian pathogen of pen-reared chinook and coho salmon. Chinook and coho salmon are generally poorly suited for use in laboratory studies because of their high mortality rates when infected with L. salmonae and their high-level of susceptibility to other infectious diseases.