Plasma lipase concentration as an aid to the early detection of pancreas disease in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Plasma lipase concentrations were determined in Atlantic salmon post smolts at weekly intervals on two farms from late June. On one farm there was a significant increase (P < 0.001) in lipase concentration which coincided with a suspicion of pancreas disease on clinical grounds. A definitive diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by histopathology. The exercise was repeated on 10 farms in the following year and the results provided additional evidence of the value of monitoring lipase concentration as an indication of pacreas disease at an earlier stage than it can be detected by clinical signs and histopathology alone.