Acute skeletal myopathy in farmed atlantic salmon salmo salar

Abstract

This paper describes the clinical findings, histopathology and biochemistry of a significant disease affecting marine stage Atlantic salmon in Ireland, known as 'sudden death syndrome'. Pathological findings were located predominantly in the skeletal muscle and affected farms all had a history of pancreas disease. The skeletal myopathy was severe and degenerative in appearance with red muscle bundle necrosis and degeneration most obvious. Blood biochemistry confirmed the severe myopathy through significantly elevated creatine kinase levels. It is proposed that the myopathy has its basis in nutritional deficiency and exertional stress, brought about through an outbreak of pancreas disease.