Jerri Bartholomew
Salmon diseases, fish parasites
| Office: | 524 Nash Hall |
| Telephone: | 541-737-1856 |
| FAX: | 541-737-0496 |
| Email: | |
| Mailing address: | Department of Microbiology |
| 220 Nash Hall | |
| Oregon State University | |
| Corvallis, OR 97331-3804 |
RESEARCH
My research interest is pathogens of fishes, and particularly parasites of the phylum Myxozoa. This group is distinguished by having a complex life cycle, requiring not only a fish host, but an aquatic annelid. There are greater than 2200 known myxozoan species, and the life cycles of less than 30 have been described, and we are trying to add to this number. However, three species that cause disease in salmonids are the main focus of our research.
Ceratomyxa shasta. This parasite is found only in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. and Canada, and in some river systems it can be a serious disease problem for salmon and trout. We described the life cycle of this parasite, finding that its alternate host is an unusual freshwater polychaete worm. This finding opened the door to investigations on the ecology of the relationship between the parasite and its hosts to answer why it is present in certain areas and not found in others. Recent studies on C. shasta in the Klamath River has resulted in mapping the distribution and habitat requirements of the polychaete host and in development of molecular detection methods that can measure parasite numbers in water samples. Together, these advances are providing important keys to understanding the effects of this pathogen in that system and to providing resource managers with tools for mitigating those effects.
Another area of investigation is the genetic and immunological basis of resistance against this parasite. Strains of fish from endemic areas are not generally susceptible to infection and disease unless exposed to large numbers of parasites. Genetic linkage mapping of clonal fish strains has resulted in identification of several markers associated with the trait of resistance.
Myxobolus cerebralis. This myxozoan is the cause of whirling disease in trout. Interest in whirling disease has resurfaced in the past decade because of its impacts on wild trout populations in the Rocky Mountain states. This has caused a reexamination of what we know about the parasite and its impact in other regions. Of particular interest in my lab is the effect that it may have on anadromous salmon populations, and the potential of these migratory fish for disseminating the parasite to new areas. Another topic of interest is the role that the genetics of the invertebrate host, Tubifex tubifex, plays in influencing infection. We are addressing these questions in laboratory studies and in field studies in northeastern Oregon, where the parasite is endemic and lower Columbia River tributaries where it is most likely to become established. This work has recently expanded to Alaska in response to questions about the risk of introduction and establishment of this parasite in waters in that state.
These research interests led me to join the Whirling Disease Foundation as their science coordinator. This foundation was established in 1995 with a mission to raise funds needed for solutions to the damage caused by whirling disease. The Foundation has sponsored annual symposia that have focused attention on the problem, and has also funded research on both basic research and projects of regional interest.
Parvicapsula minibicornis. This parasite was recently detected in Chinook salmon in the Klamath River and little is known about its potential effects. However, as it can cause severe kidney pathology, there is concern that it may affect survival of these fish as they enter the ocean. During the past year we have been able to solve the life cycle of this myxozoan, finding that it requires the same invertebrate host as C. shasta. As a result, we already know a great deal about its life cycle and this will allow for a more effective management approach in rivers where these parasites are present.
Pub Med
Publications
Bartholomew, J. L., H. V. Lorz, S. D. Atkinson, S. L. Hallett, D. G. Stevens, R. A. Holt, K. Lujan and A. Amandi. Evaluation of a management strategy to control the spread of Myxobolus cerebralis in a lower
Stocking, R. W., H. L. Lorz, R. A. Holt and J. L. Bartholomew. Surveillance for Ceratomyxa shasta in the Puget Sound watershed, WA,
Stocking, R. W. and J. L. Bartholomew. Distribution and habitat characteristics of Manayunkia speciosa and infection prevalence with the parasite, Ceratomyxa shasta, in the Klamath River,
Bartholomew, J. L., S. D. Atkinson and S. L. Hallett. 2006. Involvement of Manayunkia speciosa (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellidae) in the life cycle of Parvicapsula minibicornis, a myxozoan parasite of Pacific salmon. Journal of Parasitology 92:742-748
Hallett, S. L. and J. L. Bartholomew. 2006. Application of a real-time PCR assay to detect and quantify the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta in water samples. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 71:109-118.
Hallett, S.L.,
Stocking, R. W., R. A. Holt, J. S. Foott and J. L. Bartholomew. 2006. Spatial and Temporal Occurrence of the Salmonid Parasite Ceratomyxa shasta (Myxozoa) in the
Bartholomew, J. L., B. L. Kerans, R. P. Hedrick, S. C. MacDiarmid and J. R. Winton. 2005. A risk assessment based approach for the management of whirling disease. Reviews In Fisheries Science 13:205-230.
Garner MM, Bartholomew LJ, Whipps CM, Nordhausen RW, Raiti P. 2005. Renal myxozoanosis in Crowned River Turtles Hardella thurjii: description of the putative agent Myxidium hardella n. sp., by Histopathology, Electron Microscopy, and DNA Sequencing. Veterinary Pathology 42: 589-595.
Hallett, S. L., S. D. Atkinson and J. L. Bartholomew. 2005. Countering morphological ambiguities: development of a PCR assay to assist the identification of Tubifex tubifex oligochaetes. Hydrobiologia. 543:305-309
Bartholomew, J. L., E. Ray, B. Torell, M. J. Whipple and J. R. Heidel. 2004. Monitoring Ceratomyxa shasta infection during a hatchery rearing cycle: comparison of molecular, serological and histological methods. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 62:85-92.
Bartholomew, J.L., T.S. McDowell, M. Mattes, M. El-Matbouli and R.P. Hedrick. 2004. Susceptibility of rainbow trout resistant to Myxobolus cerebralis to selected salmonid pathogens. Pages 549-557
M. J. Nickum, P. M. Mazik, J. G. Nickum, and D. D. MacKinlay, editors. Propagated Fishes in Resource Management. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 44, American Fisheries Society,
Sollid, S. A., H. V. Lorz, D. G. Stevens, P. W. Reno and J. L. Bartholomew. 2004. Prevalence of Myxobolus cerebralis at juvenile salmonid acclimation sites in
Duncan, A. E., M. M. Garner, J. L. Bartholomew, T. A. Reichard and R. W. Nordhausen. 2004. Renal myxosporidiasis in Asian horned frogs (Megophrys nasuta). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 35:381-336.
Bartholomew, J. L., H. V. Lorz, S. A. Sollid and D. G. Stevens. 2003. Susceptibility of Juvenile and Yearling Bull Trout to Myxobolus cerebralis, and Effects of Sustained Parasite Challenges. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health.15:248-255.
Larenas J. J., J. Bartholomew, O. Troncoso, H. Ledezma, S. Fernández, N. Sandoval, P. Vera, J. Contreras, P. Smith. 2003. Experimental vertical transmission of Piscirickettsia salmonis and an in vitro study of the attachment and mode of entrance of the bacterium into the ovum. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 56:25-30.
Nichols, K. M., J. L. Bartholomew and G. H. Thorgaard. 2003. Mapping multiple genetic loci associated with Ceratomyxa shasta resistance in Oncorhynchus mykiss. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 56:145-154.
Sollid, S. A., H. V. Lorz, D. G. Stevens, and J. L. Bartholomew. 2003. Age-dependent Susceptibility of chinook salmon to Myxobolus cerebralis and effects of sustained parasite challenges. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 15:136-146.
Lowers, J. M. and J. L. Bartholomew. 2003. Detection of Myxozoan Parasites in Oligochaetes Imported as Food for Ornamental Fish. Journal of Parasitology 89:84-91.
Thorgaard, G.H., G.S. Bailey, D. Williams, D.R. Buhler, S.L. Kaattari, S.S. Ristow, J.D. Hansen, J.R. Winton, J.L. Bartholomew, J.J. Nagler, P.J. Walsh, M.M. Vijayan, R.H. Devlin, R.W. Hardy, K.E. Overturf, W.P. Young, B.D. Robison, C. Rexroad III, Y. Palti, 2002. Status and opportunities for genomics research with rainbow trout. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B., 133: 609-646.