A Tiny Jellyfish Relative Just Shut Down Yellowstone River

[Disir]

On August 12, Montana officials realized that the mountain whitefish of Yellowstone River were dying en masse. They sent corpses off for testing and got grave news in return: The fish had proliferative kidney disease—the work of a highly contagious parasite that kills between 20 and 100 percent of infected hosts. Tens of thousands of whitefish were already dead, and trout were starting to fall.

Humans can spread the parasite from one water source to another. So, on the morning of August 19, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed a 183-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River, banning all fishing, swimming, floating, and boating. “We recognize that this decision will have a significant impact on many people,” said FWP Director Jeff Hagener in a press release. However, we must act to protect this public resource for present and future generations.”

The press statement and all the subsequent news reports referred to the organism behind the fishes’ woes as a “microscopic parasite.” A few select outlets actually named the thing—Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae. But none of them realized how extraordinary it really is.

It is part of a group called the myxozoans. They spend most of their lives as microscopic spores that are made of just a few cells. Despite their appearances, these creatures are animals. And although they are obscure, you have definitely heard of their closest relatives—jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones. Yellowstone River is now closed because more than half a billion years ago, a jellyfish-like animal started transforming into a parasite.

There are over 2,000 species of myxozoans (pronounced “MIX-oh-zoh-uns”), and all of them are microscopic parasites. Myxobolus cerebralis is a typical member, and the most well-studied one. It infects rainbow trout and other freshwater fish, causing an illness called whirling disease. The parasite attacks the spinal cartilage of young fish, leading to skeletal deformities and nerve damage. The youngsters often chase their tails or swim in corkscrews—hence the disease’s name. Unable to feed or escape from predators, up to 90 percent of them die.
A Tiny Jellyfish Relative Just Shut Down Yellowstone River


Washing up on the shores. I think I read that 180 miles of the Yellowstone River is shut down at this point.

 

[Crick]

So, any idea what might have caused the parasite population to increase or local resistance to falter?

 

[Disir]

So, any idea what might have caused the parasite population to increase or local resistance to falter?

I can't find anything definitive; however, there is a "likely"

The infection likely got a toehold into the fish population because the fish were already stressed by warmer than normal water temperatures, and lower than normal levels of water in the stream, which puts stress on the fish. You know how you're more likely to get sick when stressed? Same goes for fish.
Montana Shut Down Over 150 Miles Of River Because Of A Fish-Killing Parasite

 

[Disir]

The effect of the disease on Yellowstone’s fish populations is exacerbated by other stressors like near record low flows, consistent high temperatures, and the disturbance caused by recreational activities.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks :: Yellowstone River Closed In Response To Ongoing Fish Kill

 

[Disir]

It has been documented previously in only two isolated locations in Montana over the past 20 years. Recent outbreaks have occurred in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In trout, research has shown the disease to have the potential to cause 20 to 100 percent mortality. The parasite does not pose a risk to humans.

A similar outbreak of the parasite in Idaho in 2012 was mainly limited to whitefish.

"We did not institute any closures," said Dan Garren, Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional fisheries manager. "We never did document it in trout."

Every year since that first documented outbreak, Garren said dead whitefish have been found in the heat of the summer and the disease has been confirmed in the dead fish that were analyzed.

"So it's out there," he said. "It's one of those pathogens that are in the system, and it's probably not going anywhere.

"Frankly, we don't know if it's native or not."
Fish kill closes 183 miles of Yellowstone River, tributaries to all recreation

 

[Crick]

Washington, Oregon and Idaho have experienced higher than normal temps due to the polar vortex in additional to general global warming.

 

[Disir]

Adaptation.

 

[Crick]

More like a failure thereof. Anthropogenic changes tend to be faster than evolutionary adaptation can cope

 

[Disir]

Not the fish. From the first link:

And there’s so much we still don’t know about them. For example, Tetracapsuloides—the species that just closed Yellowstone River—is an oddball, even for a myxozoan. Unlike most of its kin, its intermediate hosts aren’t worms but bryozoans—a group of aquatic, filter-feeding animals. And it has an even more complicated life cycle than its peers. Along with the usual spores, it can also form a sac-like stage that contains hundreds of parasitic cells.

One of its relatives, called Buddenbrockia, is stranger still. It goes through a stage where it looks very much like a worm—a long, sinuous, muscular animal. But unlike actual worms, this one has no mouth, gut, or brain; no left or right; no top or bottom; no head or tail. It does, however, have polar capsules—it’s a jellyfish that turned into a worm.

These things are much more than simple microscopic parasites. And yet, in the Yellowstone crisis, Cartwright notes that “no one has mentioned that the parasites are actually relatives of jellyfish!” She adds, “We have to change our way of thinking. We have to think of them within the evolutionary framework of where they came from. I suspect we’ll understand a lot more about their basic biology then.”

 

[frigidweirdo]

On August 12, Montana officials realized that the mountain whitefish of Yellowstone River were dying en masse. They sent corpses off for testing and got grave news in return: The fish had proliferative kidney disease—the work of a highly contagious parasite that kills between 20 and 100 percent of infected hosts. Tens of thousands of whitefish were already dead, and trout were starting to fall.

Humans can spread the parasite from one water source to another. So, on the morning of August 19, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed a 183-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River, banning all fishing, swimming, floating, and boating. “We recognize that this decision will have a significant impact on many people,” said FWP Director Jeff Hagener in a press release. However, we must act to protect this public resource for present and future generations.”

The press statement and all the subsequent news reports referred to the organism behind the fishes’ woes as a “microscopic parasite.” A few select outlets actually named the thing—Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae. But none of them realized how extraordinary it really is.

It is part of a group called the myxozoans. They spend most of their lives as microscopic spores that are made of just a few cells. Despite their appearances, these creatures are animals. And although they are obscure, you have definitely heard of their closest relatives—jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones. Yellowstone River is now closed because more than half a billion years ago, a jellyfish-like animal started transforming into a parasite.

There are over 2,000 species of myxozoans (pronounced “MIX-oh-zoh-uns”), and all of them are microscopic parasites. Myxobolus cerebralis is a typical member, and the most well-studied one. It infects rainbow trout and other freshwater fish, causing an illness called whirling disease. The parasite attacks the spinal cartilage of young fish, leading to skeletal deformities and nerve damage. The youngsters often chase their tails or swim in corkscrews—hence the disease’s name. Unable to feed or escape from predators, up to 90 percent of them die.
A Tiny Jellyfish Relative Just Shut Down Yellowstone River


Washing up on the shores. I think I read that 180 miles of the Yellowstone River is shut down at this point.

Fucking liberals and their protesting. You can't get the morals these days, not even with relatives of the bloody jellyfish.

 

[Crick]

What is all that supposed to mean?

 

[Crick]

Not the fish. From the first link:

And there’s so much we still don’t know about them. For example, Tetracapsuloides—the species that just closed Yellowstone River—is an oddball, even for a myxozoan. Unlike most of its kin, its intermediate hosts aren’t worms but bryozoans—a group of aquatic, filter-feeding animals. And it has an even more complicated life cycle than its peers. Along with the usual spores, it can also form a sac-like stage that contains hundreds of parasitic cells.

One of its relatives, called Buddenbrockia, is stranger still. It goes through a stage where it looks very much like a worm—a long, sinuous, muscular animal. But unlike actual worms, this one has no mouth, gut, or brain; no left or right; no top or bottom; no head or tail. It does, however, have polar capsules—it’s a jellyfish that turned into a worm.

These things are much more than simple microscopic parasites. And yet, in the Yellowstone crisis, Cartwright notes that “no one has mentioned that the parasites are actually relatives of jellyfish!” She adds, “We have to change our way of thinking. We have to think of them within the evolutionary framework of where they came from. I suspect we’ll understand a lot more about their basic biology then.”

The myxozoans and their kin have existed in that environment for a very long time. The change is not their presence but one or more of the various factors involved that have increased the infection rate.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Blaming every news story on AGW is just fucking moronic

 

[Crick]

Was that EVERY news story Frank?

Do you have some alternate hypotheses for the change in the myxozoan/fish relationship?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Was that EVERY news story Frank?

Do you have some alternate hypotheses for the change in the myxozoan/fish relationship?

There's probably millions and the 2 decade pause in temperature is likely wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down on the list

 

[Disir]

Not the fish. From the first link:

And there’s so much we still don’t know about them. For example, Tetracapsuloides—the species that just closed Yellowstone River—is an oddball, even for a myxozoan. Unlike most of its kin, its intermediate hosts aren’t worms but bryozoans—a group of aquatic, filter-feeding animals. And it has an even more complicated life cycle than its peers. Along with the usual spores, it can also form a sac-like stage that contains hundreds of parasitic cells.

One of its relatives, called Buddenbrockia, is stranger still. It goes through a stage where it looks very much like a worm—a long, sinuous, muscular animal. But unlike actual worms, this one has no mouth, gut, or brain; no left or right; no top or bottom; no head or tail. It does, however, have polar capsules—it’s a jellyfish that turned into a worm.

These things are much more than simple microscopic parasites. And yet, in the Yellowstone crisis, Cartwright notes that “no one has mentioned that the parasites are actually relatives of jellyfish!” She adds, “We have to change our way of thinking. We have to think of them within the evolutionary framework of where they came from. I suspect we’ll understand a lot more about their basic biology then.”

The myxozoans and their kin have existed in that environment for a very long time. The change is not their presence but one or more of the various factors involved that have increased the infection rate.

I don't disagree with that. I think it's fascinating the myriad of ways it has changed relative to the different environments.

 

[Crick]

And more than a little frightening. But, then, that would be "scaremongering", wouldn't it.

 

[Unkotare]

So, any idea what might have caused the parasite population to increase or local resistance to falter?

Obviously it's because of illegal immigrants as part of the global scheme to achieve white (fish) genocide! No doubt flouride was added to these rivers by joooos to cause the little jellyfish of color to mutate into white (fish) killing machines.

Of course the ultimate goal of the plan is to make white PEOPLE eat the infected fish by secretly adding it to the Michelle Obama school lunches. It will then interact with the useless vaccines everyone not of color have been given, transforming them into mindless, undead servants of the new world order- also known as democrat voters.

 

[Disir]

And more than a little frightening. But, then, that would be "scaremongering", wouldn't it.

Is there some particular bitch that you have with any of my stances, Crick?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

And more than a little frightening. But, then, that would be "scaremongering", wouldn't it.

Crick can you post the lab work controlling for CO2 showing how the imaginary "excess heat" retained by the water turns the critters into fish eating zombies.

Yeah, didn't think so