Abstract

Pike fry (age from 10 days to 2 months) have been experimentally infected by 4 salmonid virus strains (IPN, IHN, VHS types 1 and 3) and by perch rhabdovirus. IPN virus caused a 74% mortality in 10 days old fry, with exophthalmia and abdominal swelling due to liquid accumulation. Histopathologic examination showed the pancreatic lesions usual in salmonids, but also a remarkable necrosis of liver and cardiac tissues. Two months old fry proved resistant to IPN infection. The four rhabdoviruses, including perch virus, provoked haemorrhages with frequent exophthalmia, followed by mortalities ranging from 40 to 70% in 1 to 2 months old fry. These results show or confirm the extreme susceptibility of pike fry to the principal salmonid viruses and to perch rhabdovirus.