Handling as a factor in mortality of trout with or without furunculosis
Mortalities of brook trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis ), brown trout ( Salmo trutta ), and rainbow trout ( Salmo gairdneri ) in 1978 and 1979 were significantly higher in clinically diseased than in subclinically diseased or healthy fish in both years. Mortalities in diseased fish within 24 h after sampling were not statistically different from those in specific-pathogen-free controls; however, the crowding offish lots for stocking resulted in significantly higher mortalities in furunculosis -infected brown trout in 1979. Crowding and handling for stocking thus caused higher mortality in diseased fish than just sampling. Healthy trout were able to tolerate more handling stress.