Melanosis Project

Aquabench has started a project in May 2022 that aims to identify factors associated with the presentation of muscle melanosis in farmed salmon and define measures to reduce its presentation. 9 production companies participate in this project, representing approximately 70% of national production.

Muscular #melanosis is an injury that affects the three species of farmed salmon in Chile, but with special intensity to Atlantic salmon. It occurs in a variable way in the 3 cultivation regions of southern Chile (X, XI and XII regions) reaching a high incidence (in some cases up to 40%) in some cultivation centers, generating a high economic impact for the producing companies due to losses due to product degradation, removal of affected portion and increase in process time.

In relation to the risk variables, it is considered as a multifactorial presentation picture, where different risk factors are probably associated (trauma, management, diet, infectious diseases, etc.), which can affect the presentation of the different types of melanosis observed. Even though this inflammatory process has been addressed by various groups of researchers, both in Chile and in other producing countries, not enough evidence has yet been generated to identify the specific risk and/or protective factors in the presentation of each pattern of melanosis. muscular.

Our company proposed an approach to the problem similar to the one used in the #Caligus and SRS projects, which is based on the generation of knowledge from collaborative and continuous work among producers, focused on collecting standardized information for each company with the objective to characterize the clinical picture, evaluate the associated factors through epidemiological studies and coordinate the development of R&D activities with experts in the area.