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Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis (UDN) in Salmonids: A Review

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Abstract—

Ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN) in salmonids is a severe disease of mature salmonids characterized by abundant mortality of the infected fishes. The necrosis involves skin ulcers, which are further infected with secondary infections (for example, oomycetes of the Saprolegnia genus or various pathogenic bacteria) that ultimately leads to death. The disease named “salmon disease” was recorded in the 19th century; then it was noted periodically till the 1960s, when the infection was detected in southwestern Ireland, and afterward spread to the rivers of the British Isles and neighboring countries. Currently, the cases of outbreaks of mass salmon infection depend on the season and the region. In recent years, reports on increased sickness rate of salmonids have been received from a number of countries, including Sweden, Finland, Russia, and others. It is noted that only half of the fish with UDN-like lesions were specifically diagnosed as UDN on the basis of all diagnostic criteria of this disease. Considering this fact, and also taking into account the detection of new symptoms in infected fish, including red spots on the skin, a rash on the abdomen, skin bleeding, a new disease is revealed. This disease is called “Red Skin Disease” (RSD), and now it has its own diagnostic criteria as well as UDN. Recording of the new disease and approval of its name was carried out at a scientific seminar at the Norwegian Institute of Nature (NINA, Norway) in November 2019. Attempts to clarify the etiology of UDN have been made since the 1960s. Despite the fact that most researchers consider the nature of the disease to be viral, there is no clear scientific evidence for this. It is noted that there are extremely little convincing data about the origin, etiology, pathogenesis, and possible consequences of this dangerous disease, so it is necessary to expand comprehensive interdisciplinary research using modern experimental and communication methods. This will allow the development of effective measures to deal with this disease and propose a system for monitoring and predicting the future state of Atlantic salmon populations.

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Funding

This study was supported by the State Task for Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, no. 0218-2019-0076, FMEN-2022-0006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, 185910, Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia

    D. S. Provotorov, S. A. Murzina, E. P. Ieshko & N. N. Nemova

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  1. D. S. Provotorov
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  2. S. A. Murzina
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  3. E. P. Ieshko
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  4. N. N. Nemova
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Correspondence to D. S. Provotorov.

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Translated by M. Novikova

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Provotorov, D.S., Murzina, S.A., Ieshko, E.P. et al. Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis (UDN) in Salmonids: A Review. Biol Bull Rev 13, 20–27 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086423010073

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