Studies on the parasite fauna of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., cultured in fresh water in eastern Scotland.

The parasite fauna of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., at a smolt-rearing unit in eastern Scotland was monitored from two weeks after first-feeding until smolting occurred (May 1973-April 1975). A total of 625 fish was examined. Wild salmon from the river supplying the unit with unfiltered water were also examined. The cultured fish yielded eight protozoan and seven metazoan parasite species, all derived from wild fish. The parasite fauna of cultured fish became established quickly, subsequent changes involving loss of some species and increasing abundance of others. The metazoan parasite fauna was restricted to those species with free-swimming infective stages capable of entering the tanks.