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Oregon Sea Grant
I hope all of you are enjoying a pleasant summer. After too long a hiatus, we are here with a new issue. I hope you find it informative.
I'm always open to any comments or suggestions for future newsletter content. Don't hesitate to contact me at the numbers below.
Spring Viremia of Carp virus (SVCv) was recently identified in a backyard
koi and goldfish pond located in Snohomish County, Washington State.
In March 2004, 11 koi and approximately 100 goldfish were purchased from a local
pet store and added to a private back yard koi and goldfish pond. In the month
of April, five of the 11 koi died. The water temperature in the pond at this
time was 67-72°F. The remaining six koi were euthanized and submitted to
the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) in Pullman, Washington,
where Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) was diagnosed. The National Veterinary Services
Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa confirmed this diagnosis.
At this point, the outbreak appears to be isolated to this one pond and the
pond does not drain to any natural water sources.
Since SVC is a foreign animal disease that must be reported to the federal government,
USDA-APHIS was notified. USDA-APHIS initiated an investigation and assumed management
of this small outbreak. The owners have been extremely cooperative and the decision
was made to depopulate the remaining koi and goldfish in the pond. Trace-ins
and trace-outs are currently underway from the pet store where the fish were
purchased. This will help APHIS to identify the source of the virus and other
locations that may have received the infected fish.
This is not the first case of SVCv in North America. A little over two years
ago, SVC was detected on a commercial fish farm on the East Coast. SVC is a
virus recognized by the international animal health organization, Office International
des Epizooties (OIE), http://www.oie.int/home.htm,
of which the USA is a participating member country. Because of SVCv foreign
animal disease status, the USA is required to report the outbreak to international
authorities.
Discovery of the virus has caused a great deal of hardship for the farm involved,
but by having the virus diagnosed and by calling in the USDA-APHIS for help,
the farmer has made it possible for the outbreak to be contained and eventually
eliminated. If the isolation had remained undiagnosed and unreported, it probably
would have spread throughout the infected farm, severely impacting production
for the long term. In addition, it would have been spread to other farms, producing
severe losses in cultured and wild minnows, koi, goldfish, and carp. In the
last two years, the virus has been found in wild fish in Illinois and Wisconsin.
It is important to keep in mind that this carp virus outbreak is a special case
and a special virus. There are dozens of other fish viruses that are found routinely
in fish and that have no reporting requirements. There is no reason to be concerned
that by having your fish checked for virus infection you are setting yourself
up to be the center of a national fish disease incident. For fish producer/dealers,
the only way to protect your business and your customers is to correctly identify
and handle viral infections when they occur. The problem with the recent carp
virus outbreak was not that it was reported to USDA-APHIS; the real problem
was that a dangerous virus gained a temporary foothold in the USA. The small
outbreak in Washington serves to emphasize that koi and goldfish hobbyists are
not immune from introducing viral diseases to their ponds and tanks. While the
greater risk currently in the koi hobby is Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) (see new article
to download below), SVC does present a very real risk to the koi and goldfish
hobby. For further information on Spring Viremia of Carp, please refer to the
University of Florida extension publication on this topic. It may be downloaded
at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM106.
This is an excellent opportunity to review some general preventive strategies hobbyists and dealers may use to reduce their risks of introducing these and other diseases into their fish populations.
Recent developments have shown that SVCv does pose a risk to hobbyists as well as well as dealers and producers. Unfortunately, a rapid test for screening apparently healthy fish is unavailable at this time. However, knowledge of the disease, some common sense, and relatively simple preventive measures can reduce the risk of your fish contracting this disease.
Dr. Roy Yanong, an extension veterinarian with the University of Florida, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, recently published an excellent series of articles on fish health management in recirculating aquaculture systems. This series does not discuss specific diseases and treatments; rather, each article addresses different aspects of basic disease prevention in closed systems. There is an extensive reference section at the end of each article for readers who wish to pursue discussed topics in greater detail. The series is suitable for anyone involved in fish husbandry, but should be particularly useful to hobbyists with large fish rooms, dealers, and ornamental fish producers.
When summer temperatures rise we receive a number of concerned aquarists worrying about the well being of their fish. The major concern with warmer water is the amount of dissolved oxygen available to the fish. The following suggestions should help keep your fish cool and happy!
With the coming of the summer months and warmer water temperatures, Koi Herpes virus (KHV) is rearing its ugly head again in ponds around the country. The University of Florida has recently published a nice article that describes KHV, its signs, how infection appears to occur, its diagnosis, and some recommendations for prevention. The article may be downloaded at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VM113.
If you suspect KHV or you would like more information, I would encourage you to contact the laboratories at the end of the article, your local fish-friendly veterinarian, myself, a fish pathologist, or your local veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
Unbelievably, the first year of Aquarium Science instruction to the student
cohort is completed. Retention of students was high, considering that of the
19 original students, 17 were actively taking courses by the end of the spring
term. Their evaluation of the Aquarium Science courses was overall positive,
although slight adjustments to content and delivery methods will be made. These
modifications will be incorporated into the appropriate courses in time for
the next group of Aquarium Science students (Fall 2004). Applications are still
being accepted for this student cohort.
During this first year, students experienced a blend of classroom instruction
and workplace experiences. Key partners in the development of these future aquarists
and husbandry personnel were Oregon Sea Grant, the Hatfield Marine Science Center,
and the Oregon Coast Aquarium. These institutions and their staff members embraced
student involvement and our appreciation goes out to each of the mentoring supervisors.
Besides these "workplace classrooms," students have accompanied
Dr. Miller-Morgan during his veterinary rounds at the Oregon Coast Aquarium
and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. This provided students with an insight
into the complex nature of aquatic animal health management. Participating students
also contributed to the discussion by making brief presentations about specific
disease agents.
On a different plane, Lincoln County voters recently passed a bond measure ($23.5 million) that supports the construction of a campus facility for the college. In the current economic and social climate, this approval is quite a statement by the county's population. We look forward to providing improved educational opportunities -- both to our students and to those who seek to enhance their professional standing.
A big thank-you to Steve Weeks, owner of Pacific Coast Imports, for the donation of a ½-horse chiller. This chiller will be used in our upcoming ornamental fish exhibit at the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center.
Anyone who is interested in making monetary donations to the program to help us offset the costs of maintaining this program may make checks out to Oregon State University and send them to me at the address below. You will receive a thank-you letter from Oregon State University that also documents your donation for tax purposes. All donations will be used solely for support of this program and are GREATLY appreciated.
If you are interested in making a donation of goods or services, please contact me at the numbers and email below and I can tell you about our current needs.
But if you tame me we shall need each other.
To me, you shall be unique in all the world.
To you, I shall be unique in all the world.
You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed
Antoine de Saint-Expupery (1900-1944)
Tim Miller-Morgan, DVM
Extension Veterinarian/Assistant Professor
Ornamental Aquaculture
Sea Grant Extension/College of Veterinary Medicine
Oregon State University
Hatfield Marine Science Center
2030 Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365
(541) 867-0100 (office)
(541) 270-4218 (cell)
E-mail: tim.miller-morgan@oregonstate.edu
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