Identification of genetic markers for disease resistance to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in commercial populations of rainbow trout through genome-wide association analysis

In the effort to enhance the productivity of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) industry, one crucial concern is disease, which was responsible for approximately 90% (representing 25.4 million fish) of production-related deaths in 2015 (NASS 2016). Effective control measures for all diseases remain elusive, and even when present, may inflate production costs considerably. 

To address these issues, we are leveraging genomic innovation through the induction of individual fish unique genetic information for brood-stock. This initiative aims to significantly boost selective breeding efficacy by enabling a more targeted approach to desirable characteristics like disease resistance. Our team of researchers has extensively deployed high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array and whole-genome sequencing tactics to pinpoint markers that correlate with resistance against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), a major salmonid antagonist. The strategic utilization of these markers holds a vast potential for genomic selection, thus paving the way for improved aquaculture populations.