Abstract

Canditatus Xenohaliotis californiensis in Iceland.

OIE
WAHIS - WOAH Disease Information (on-line)
17
25
2004
CANDIDATUS XENOHALIOTIS CALIFORNIENSIS IN ICELAND

Emergency report

Information received on 11 June 2004 from Dr Halldór Runólfsson, Chief Veterinary Officer, Reykjavik:

Date of the report:
11 June 2004.

Nature of diagnosis: laboratory.

Outbreaks: Location: in the northern part of the country, No. of outbreaks: 1 farm. Location: in the southern part of the country, No. of outbreaks: 1 farm.

Description of infected population: red abalone( Haliotis rufescens ).

Total number of animals in the outbreaks: species: mol. susceptible: …. cases: *. deaths: 0. destroyed: 0. slaughtered: 0.
* the animals on the abalone farms are apparently healthy, there is no abnormal mortality and growth is normal

Diagnosis:

A. Laboratories where diagnosis was made:
primary diagnosis was made during a routine health control histological study by the Icelandic national reference laboratory, at Keldur in Reykjavík. Tissue samples were sent to Dr C. Friedman, School of Aquatic and Fishery Science, University of Washington, in Seattle, United States of America, for PCR identification of the infectious agent. This was done in co-operation with Dr F. Berthe, OIE Reference Laboratory for diseases of molluscs, IFREMER, in La Tremblade, France.

B. Diagnostic tests used:
- histology;
- PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

C. Pathogen identified: Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (a Rickettsia -like bacterium known to cause withering syndrome of abalone), listed in Article 1.1.3.2 of the Aquatic Animal Health Code.

Source of agent/origin of infection: the brood animals were originally imported from California, United States of America, in 1988, and this is assumed to be the source of the agent.

Control measures: control measures will be based on movement restrictions.
WOAH