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The ecology of infectious diseases in wild and managed salmon populations is reviewed. Few pathogens have caused significant disease epidemics in the wild, and although parasites of returning adults are best documented, diseases among parr (e.g., Gyrodactylus salaris) are probably most important. The greatest diversity of parasites is known from the marine phase but few are likely to be significant pathogens, although conclusive evidence is lacking because diseased salmon cannot be tracked. The importance of stress as an immunosuppressant of fishes in degraded habitats is discussed. In addition, releases and restocking have probably also reduced the genetic disease resistance of wild fishes. We note that myxozoans, furunculosis, G. salaris, and sea lice are the pathogens most likely to threaten wild and managed salmon stocks in future. Despite abundant research on pathogens of farmed salmon, little is known of their impact on wild or managed stocks and an adequate theoretical framework for salmon disease epidemiology is urgently needed before disease becomes a limiting factor in salmon conservation.

Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 is an important pathogen in Norwegian populations of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. It can infect a wide range of salmonid host species, but on most the infections are probably ultimately lim~ted by a host response. Generally, on Norwegian salmon stocks, infections grow unchecked until the host dies. On a Baltic salmon stock, originally from the Neva River, a host reaction is mounted, limltlng parasite population growth on those fishes initially susceptible. Among rainbow trouts Oncorhynchus mykiss from the sam.e stock and among full sib anadromous arctic char Salvelinus alpjnus, both naturally resistant and susceptible individuals later mounting a host response can be observed. This is in contrast to an anadromous stock of brown trout Salmo trutta where only innately resistant individuals were found. A general feature of salmonid infections is the considerable variation of susceptibility between individual fish of the same stock, which appears genetic in origin. The parasite seems to be generally unable to reproduce on non-salmonids, and on cyprinids, individual behavioural mechanisms of the parasite may prevent infection. Transmission occurs directly through host contact, and by detached gyrodactylids and also from dead fishes. Relative importance of these routes and of different host species in the epidemiology of the disease is discussed with reference to laboratory experiments and existing knowledge concerning the host-parasite ecology.

The total diversity of the monogenean genus Gyrodactylus is evaluated. There are 409 potentially valid species names within the genus, recorded from c. 400 host species. Five species have been placed within Fundulotrema and an additional 51 Gyrodactylus species names represent synonyms, nomina nuda or have been reassigned to other non-viviparous monogenean genera. While the majority of Gyrodactylus species (59%) are recorded from single hosts, some have a much broader broad range.

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Gyrodactylus salaris, an important pathogen of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, has been shown to be highly sensitive to factors in host serum and mucus, being killed rapidly (50% within 1 h) by serum at a dilution of 1:200. The time needed for killing was inversely proportional to serum concentration. Similar effects were noted using host mucus, which contained approximately 1/20th of the anti-Gyrodactylus activity of serum. Serum activity was abolished completely by heating at 45 degrees C for 30 min, and by addition of EDTA, but not by EGTA + 1 mM magnesium ions. Activity was not dependent on whether the serum was from infected or naive fishes, nor was it species specific. Attempts to pre-coat parasites in salmon anti-Gyrodactylus antibodies also failed to enhance the activity of fresh serum. These observations suggest that killing is due to the complement system of the host, acting via the alternate pathway. G. salaris appears to be exceptionally sensitive to complement, being killed at concentrations which could be experienced in vivo. The role of complement in the protection of fishes against gyrodactylid infection therefore deserves further investigation.