Feed trained largemouth bass fingerlings will b e transferred into aerated 10-gallon aquaria and experimentally infected with columnaris causing bacteria (CCB) . Infected fish will be exposed to s alt concentrations of 6 , 9 , and 12 parts per thousand and will be monitored for signs of columnaris causing bacteria infection, such as skin ulcers, fin rot, and lethargy. The salt treatment levels will be monitored and maintained throughout the experiment. Each tank will be observed for mortalities and dead fish will be removed and recorded daily. To confirm columnaris causing bacteria in the experimental fish, gill, skin, brain and kidney samples will be collected from dead fish and cultured on Tryptone Yeast Extract Salts (TYES) media.
Data collected from the experiment will first be tested for normality and analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test. The optimum salt treatment level that can control columnaris causing bacteria infections in largemouth bass will be determined based on survival percentage rate (number of fish survived x 100 / initial number of fish) and the absence of signs of columnaris causing bacteria in the fish.
Results will be disseminated to our stakeholders who raise largemouth bass and have to deal with preventing and treating columnaris infections. It is estimated that the initial results of the study will be ready by the April 2024 conference date. (This research is supported by the intramural research program of USDA NIFA, Evans-Allen project # KYX-80-23-34A, Accession Number 7004685) .