Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend to wards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production

MUC7 haplotype analysis: results from a longitudinal birth cohort support protective effect of the MUC7*5 allele on respiratory function

The mucin MUC7 is a glycoprotein that plays a role in bacterial clearance and has candidacidal activity. There are two common allelic forms with 5 or 6 tandem repeats (TR) of a 23 amino acid motif within the highly glycosylated (mucin) domain. The MUC7*5 allele has previously been shown to be less prevalent in patients with asthma, suggesting a protective role in respiratory function. Here we report the characterisation of other frequent genetic variation within and in the vicinity of the gene MUC7. A total of 26 polymorphisms were identified of which 5 are located in transcribed regions. A subset of 8 polymorphisms was selected to represent the major haplotypes, and allelic association was studied in individuals of Northern European ancestry, including known asthmatics. There was low haplotype diversity and strong association between each of the loci, and the MUC7*5 allele-carrying haplotype remained the one most strongly associated with asthma. Five of these polymorphisms have also been tested in the 1946 longitudinal birth cohort, for whom developmental, environmental and respiratory health data are available. We show that the haplotype carrying MUC7*5 is associated with higher FEV1 at 53 years, reduced age-related decline of FEV1, and also reduced incidence of wheeze