Publication Abstract

First report of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus in feral Common Carp in North America

A.L. Dikkeboom, C. Radi, K. Kurth, S. Marcquenski, M. Engel, A.E. Goodwin, K. Way, D.M. Stone and C.B. Longshaw

In spring 2002, an estimated 1500 carp (over 10,000 kg of biomass) died over a six week period (late April through the first week in June) in Cedar Lake which is located in Polk and St. Croix Counties, in northwestern Wisconsin. Three moribund carp were necropsied and had signs consistent with spring viremia of carp (SVC) disease, including petechiae and ecchymotic hemorrhages on the skin, ascites, and edematous kidney and spleen. A virus was isolated on FHM cells and shown to be a rhabdovirus by electron microscopy. Immunoassay results indicated a close serological relationship with SVC virus and this was confirmed by RT-PCR assay and subsequent sequence analysis. Immunocytochemistry and serum neutralization tests indicated that the Cedar Lake isolate did not share complete antigenic identity with European reference SVCV. Also, an inhibition of cytopathic effect was noted after repeated sub-culture of the isolate in EPC and BF-2 cells when compared to other SVCV isolates. In virus transmission studies the isolate was shown to be of low virulence for juvenile carp. Sequence analysis showed that the Cedar Lake SVCV isolate was more closely related to a recently isolated North Carolina strain of SVCV and to strains of Asian origin rather than the European reference strain of SVCV. Sequence results do not indicate a link between the Cedar Lake and North Carolina SVC introductions. This is the first report of a SVC epizootic in a feral common carp population in North America.

Reference:

A.L. Dikkeboom, C. Radi, K. Kurth, S. Marcquenski, M. Engel, A.E. Goodwin, K. Way, D.M. Stone and C.B. Longshaw. (2004) First report of Spring Viremia of Carp Virus in feral Common Carp in North America. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, 16(4): 169-178