User:Jhardi38/sandbox

What is whirling disease?
Whirling disease is a parasitic infection that is caused by microscopic protozoans that destroys the cartilage of juvenile salmonid(trout, salmon, charr, grayling, and whitefish). The result of this is skeletal deformities and sometimes whirling behaviors. The parasite responsible for this disease is considered by the Alberta Invasive Species Council an aquatic invasive species since it is outside of its supposedly natural range and causes major harm to its affected environment. With this disease, seriously infected fish have a reduced ability to feed or escape from predators and mortality is high. Waters infected by this disease can cause up to 90% mortalities in native and non-native trout and mountain whitefish. The parasite has a fairly complex lifecycle where it requires a salmonid and tubifex worms as its hosts to survive.

Where is it from?
Whirling disease was originally discovered a little over 100 years ago in Europe where scientists believe it was introduced from to the United States where it was then discovered again in 1958. Since then, it has been reported in fish in more than 20 states. Whirling disease had the potential to cause losses in natural stocks of trout and became a United States concern in 1993-1994 when the losses of wild rainbow trout climbed up to 90% in multiple trout streams in Colorado and Montana were attributed to whirling.

Where is it found and how is it spread?
While the disease is not spread between salmonids, it is spread through salmonids and tubifex worms instead. Infectious spores can be transferred to other salmonids occupied waters through various ways. A lot of these ways include human interactions such as moving contaminated water infected worms, contaminated equipment, and many others. Certain fish-eating birds have also been proven to disperse the parasite to other bodies of water as well. Whirling disease is found throughout several European countries, in South Africa, and in New Zealand. In the United States it has been found in 23 of the 50 states with Colorado and Montana be the most heavily affected. Fourteen of the fifteen major drainages in Colorado contain Myxbolus cerebralis, the parasite that causes whirling disease. Five hundred miles of five major trout streams (Cache La Poudre, Colorado, Gunnison, South Platte and Rio Grande rivers) are showing partial to complete loss of wild rainbow trout recruitment over the past five years.

How can it be prevented from spreading?
First, be aware of the water bodies that are contaminated with Whirling Disease. Second, know the signs that show Whirling Disease is present in a Salmonid species. Third, if you think a salmonid has whirling disease, be sure to notify your nearest wildlife agency.