What We Do
The Bozeman Fish Health Center is part of the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program and the National Fish Hatchery System - a network of fish hatcheries, fish health centers, fish technology centers, and the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership program. Together they provide services that help us manage aquatic resources, protect the health of our wild and hatchery-raised fish, and recover threatened and endangered species. The unparalleled conservation efforts of this system not only enhance aquatic species and their habitats, but also improve fishing opportunities for our Nation’s 58 million recreational anglers.
Our Services
- The Bacteriology Laboratory uses traditional technology to grow and identify bacteria that are present in the organism.
- The Histology Laboratory uses high-tech equipment and extensive training for microscopic examination of aquatic animal tissues. Individual cells are examined for abnormalities to identify health problems at the microscopic level. The Center has one of the few Histology laboratories in the USFWS that use cellular changes to aid in diagnosis and confirm diseases.
- The Molecular Laboratory that uses genetics with DNA and RNA to confirm and identify aquatic animal species and pathogens.
- The Parasitology Laboratory assess the type and numbers of parasites present, including the spores found in the cartilage of young salmonids that result in “whirling disease.”
- The Virology Laboratory uses cell lines derived from several species of fish to culture viruses.