A case history of whirling disease in a drainage system: Battle Creek drainage of the upper Sacramento River basin, California, USA

Abstract

Abstract. Whirling disease was diagnosed in steelhead trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, during 1985 at Coleman National Fish Hatchery in the Battle Creek drainage of the upper Sacramento River basin, California, USA. Early confirmation of the aetiologic agent, Myxobolus cerebralis Hofer, 1903, was difficult. However, later investigation confirmed the identity of the agent and led to a management decision to destroy the 1985 brood year of steelhead trout at the hatchery. Sentinel fish and collections of feral trout were used to survey Battle Creek watershed to determine the source of infectivity. Feral rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, from South Fork Battle Creek were found to be infected with M. cerebralis and other infected trout were later found at two commercial rainbow trout hatcheries. No reinfection with M. cerebralis has been detected at the Coleman hatchery since ozonation was begun in early 1986.