Kyle Garver

Address
Research Scientist
Aquatic Animal Health Section
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Biological Station
Nanaimo, BC
Canada V9T 6N7

Phone: 250-756-7340

Fax: 250-756-7053

Email: Kyle.Garver@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Research area(s):

  • Aquatic animal health
  • Genetic research
  • Pacific salmon

Area of Expertise:

Dr. Garver leads the Virology Research Program in the Aquatic Animal Health Section at Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station. The main focus of the program is to identify and characterize viruses of finfish, to better understand viral traffic throughout watersheds, and to develop prevention and treatment methodologies. Using current molecular biology techniques, the Virology research group obtains critical information on viral epidemiology and virus-host interactions, ultimately allowing a better understanding of viral origin, distribution, and impact on fish species.

Some past/current projects include:

  • Development of a viral dispersion model to assess transmission potential of infected Atlantic salmon net pen aquaculture facilities.
  • Investigating genetic ediversity of IHNV and VHSV in the waters of British Columbia to better understand viral origin, evolution and adaptation to new hosts.
  • Characterization of infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus infections in its natural host (sockeye salmon) to provide insight into the maintenance of this pathogen in a population.
  • Examining the susceptibility, transmission dynamics, and duration of infection with viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus in Atlantic salmon to better understand the risks associated with the disease – Garver developed a new test for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus. This test overcomes the limitations of other tests, including unsuitability for massive testing. Dr. Garver’s genetics-based test is called the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (VHSV RT-qPCR). It’s highly sensitive and fast, enabling us to screen large numbers of samples within a few hours.

Select Presentation(s) / Publication(s):

Long, Amy & A. Garver, Kyle & Jones, Simon. (2018). Differential Effects of Adult Salmon Lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Physiological Responses of Sockeye Salmon and Atlantic Salmon. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 10.1002/aah.10053.

Lehnert, Sarah & A. Garver, Kyle & Richard, Jon & H. Devlin, Robert & Lajoie, Celine & E. Pitcher, Trevor & D. Heath, Daniel. (2018). Significant differences in maternal carotenoid provisioning and effects on offspring fitness in Chinook salmon colour morphs. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 31. 10.1111/jeb.13383.

Mimeault, C & Wade, J & Foreman, M & C Chandler, P & Aubry, Pascale & A Garver, K & Grant, Sue & Holt, C & Jones, Simon & Johnson, Stewart & Trudel, Marc & Burgetz, Ingrid & J Parsons, G. (2017). Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Assessment of the risk to Fraser River Sockeye Salmon due to Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) transfer from Atlantic Salmon farms in the Discovery Islands, British Columbia.

Polinski, Mark & Bradshaw, Julia & Inkpen, Sabrina & Richard, Jon & Fritsvold, Camilla & T Poppe, Trygve & L Rise, Matthew & A Garver, Kyle & Johnson, Stewart. (2016). De novo assembly of Sockeye salmon kidney transcriptomes reveal a limited early response to piscine reovirus with or without infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus superinfection. BMC Genomics. 17. 10.1186/s12864-016-3196-y.

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