Science network

Troutlodge worked closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to develop a highly advanced chip that measures fifty-seven thousand different areas of trout DNA where minute base pair substitutions known as single nucleotide polymorphic sites (SNPs) result in genetic variation. We have used this sophisticated tool to collaborate with ARS and the U.S. Geological Survey staff at pathogen secure facilities to challenge our trout against Flavobacterium psychrophilum and F. columnaris (the causative agent of Bacterial Cold Water Disease (BCWD); sometimes referred to as Rainbow Trout Fry Syndrome). Through this work, Troutlodge offers special lines of trout with enhanced pathogen resistance to BCWD and columnaris.

Troutlodge is currently working with ARS and USGS to explore variability in trout resistant to the Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHN). Through this work, our aim is to develop trout strains with enhanced resistance to IHN. This collaborative project is underway and we hope to have positive and exciting news in the near future.

We are also planning to work with our partners to test sentinel populations against viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). Through this work we aim to create value and provide trout to customers that survive and grow well in challenging production environments.

Troutlodge plans to work closely with our customers in Peru to field-test our genetics in production settings in Lake Titicaca. This work follows on work that Troutlodge completed in 2010 where we examined how various groups of our trout performed in the production rigors of Lake Titicaca, Peru.