SELECTIVE BREEDING CRITERIA FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE IN FOOD FISH

FISH SKIN MUCUS FUNCTIONING IN PRIMARY DEFENSE AND ENVIRON- MENTAL ADAPTATION CONTAINS BIOLOGIC ACTIVITIES THAT APPEAR TO REDUCE PATHOGEN INFECTIVITY AND PERHAPS ENHANCE PATHOGEN ANTIGENICITY. LEVELS OF THESE ACTIVITIES ALSO APPEAR TO BE GENETICALLY CONTROLLED. WE PRPOSED CHARACTERIZE MUCUS LYSOZYME,PROTEASE, AND PRECIP-ITIN ACTIVITES (MLPAS) IN A RAINBOW TROUT POPULATION BEFORE AND AFTER INDUCED EPIZOOTICS OF TWO ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT TROUT DISEASES: INFECTIOUS HEMATOPOIETIC NECROSIS(VIRAL) ANDENTERIC RED-MOUTH(BACTERIAL). POPULATION FREQUENCY DISTRIBU TIONS OF MLPPAS CORRELATING WITH TROUT SURVIVAL WILL BE THE BASIS OF A NON-DESTRUCTIVE SCREEN FOR BROODSTOCK AND JUSTIFYOUR PERFECTING THE TECHNOLOGY FOR AQUACULTURE USE.