Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Colorado
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Field observations and experiments are being conducted to estimate the impact of new artificial trout ponds on the prevalence and severity of whirling disease (Myxobolus cerebralis) in the White River, CO. We are monitoring triactinomyxon production, Tubifex tubifex lineage composition, as well as the prevalence of the parasite in fish populations in the White River. Manipulative experiments are also being conducted to evaluate the potential for using parasite resistant T. tubifex to control the severity of whirling disease in pond environments.