College of Veterinary Medicine

Field and Laboratory experience in diagnostic and inspection services to anadromous and resident fish hatcheries of The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). We have a unique situation at the Eagle Fish Health Lab.  We have two fish health providers that service 20 hatcheries across the state and 3 lab technologists working in a fairly modern lab doing the testing on the samples for virus and bacteria.  We have a modern dorm with kitchens and laundry.  This is a real opportunity to do hands on fish health work for senior vet students.

• Students will be collecting, transporting, submitting, and working up samples collected at IDFG hatcheries for the Integrated Fish Health Program practiced at these facilities.
• Students will work with juvenile steelhead and Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, and adult Chinook salmon. Students will be introduced to Hatchery Bio-Security programs and their applications.
• Students will also receive some training in bacteriology, virology, parasitology of salmonids and other fish. ELISA-based culling program for Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) of adult Chinook salmon is a major portion of the program.

• 20 resident and anadromous hatcheries across Idaho operated by Idaho Fish and Game
• Phil Mamer, DVM, Supervisor, Eagle Fish Health Laboratory
• 2 clinical fish pathologists and 3 laboratory technologists

• Evaluate live, sick and dead fish.
• Collect diagnostic samples.
• Preserve samples.
• Evaluate laboratory testing of diagnostic samples.