Evaluation of Potential Transfer of the Pathogen between Farmed Salmonids and Wild Fish.

infections are among the main parasitic diseases affecting farmed salmonids. The distribution and potential transfer of spp. between farms and the natural environment has been scarcely investigated. Therefore, this work aimed to study the diversity and abundance of oomycete species in salmonid farms, tributary water, and effluent water systems. Four trout farms in Italy and two Atlantic salmon farms in Scotland were considered. In Italian farms, 532 isolates of oomycetes were obtained from fish and water, at upstream, inside, and downstream the farms. In Scottish farms, 201 oomycetes isolates were obtained from water outside the farm and from fish and water inside the farming units. Isolates were identified to the species level through amplification and sequencing of the ITS rDNA region. In Italy, was significantly more present in farmed than in wild fish, while in water it was more frequently isolated from the wild, particularly in effluent systems, not associated with more frequent isolation of in wild fish downstream the farm. In Scotland, was the most prevalent species isolated from fish, while isolates from water were mostly spp. with few isolates from upstream and downstream the farms.