Identification, Health Impacts and Distribution of an Amoebic Infection in the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), Division of Fisheries & Aquatic Conservation Southwest Region, Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center (Southwestern ARRC) intends to make a single-source grant award to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) without competition. VIMS has agreed to: 1) monitor New Mexico and Texas Rio Grande silvery minnow (RGSM) propagation facilities and distant research colonies to determine where this infection may be prevalent, 2) determine at what prevalence and severity and in which geographic areas the amoeba occurs in wild/re⿐ introduced RGSM populations, 3) characterize the adverse health impacts of infection in RGSM, 4) identity the amoeba in order to better understand this parasite⿿s life history, sources, environmental drivers and potential human health effects in the context of current RGSM propagation and re⿐stocking practices and 5) provide continuing pathology support for other emerging health issues in endangered species of interest to Southwestern ARRC over the next three years. The amount of funding expected to be award is $77,102.00. Funding for the first year will be up to $47,695.00 with subsequent awards made. Year 2 will be $19,378.00 and year 3 will be $10,029.00. The award period of performance will run from the first day awarded on or about March 1, 2016 and will end in December of 2018.