Environmental DNA reveals long-term persistence of a Midichloria-like bacterium in a rainbow trout aquaculture and links Ichthyopthirius multifiliis with the red mark syndrome
Vecchio D., Siviglia Y., Alessandro Allievi, Elisa Fesce, Paolo Losi, Carlo Croci, Leandro Gammuto, Luca Ilahiane, Sophie Melis, Alessandra Cafiso, Nicola Ferrari, Giulio Petroni, Valentina Serra, Perla Tedesco, Michele Castelli
The paper uses environmental DNA to detect RMS-MLO and I. multifiliis in trout farms, finding RMS-MLO persists long-term without correlating with RMS outbreaks, while I. multifiliis increases during outbreaks.
bioRxiv · Apr 17, 2026 · PreprintMicrobiology