Distribution of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus in wild fish species of the North Sea, north east Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea

Abstract

A surveillance programme was initiated on the occurrence and distribution of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) in wild marine fish. Six research cruises were undertaken in an 18 mo period during 1997 and 1998, covering the North Sea, the Atlantic waters off the north and west coasts of Scotland and the Irish Sea. A total of 19 293 fish were sampled from 23 different species including cod, haddock, Norway pout, herring and sprat. Individual fish lengths were recorded and the fish were checked for lesions, haemorrhaging and other signs of disease. Pools of organ samples were taken for virus assay. The majority of fish sampled did not display clinical signs indicative of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia. A small number of cod were found with skin lesions and haddock with skin haemorrhaging. Of the 2081 organ and skin sample pools collected, 21 tested positive for VHSV by tissue culture and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seventeen of the isolates originated from Norway pout Trisopterus esmarkii, one from cod Gadus morhua (skin lesion), one from herring Clupea harengus, one from whiting Merlangius merlangus, and one from a previously unreported host species, poor cod Trisopterus minutus.

Prevalence of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus in Danish marine fishes and its occurrence in new host species

“…As reported earlier (Mortensen et al 1999, King et al 2001b, most of the VHSV isolations came from fish without clinical signs attributable to VHS. Whether this is because VHSV from the marine environment in Europe does not cause disease in wild marine fish or whether VHSV-positive fish are carrier fish that have survived VHS is not known.…”

“…VHSV was isolated from 132 samples consisting of 850 fish and representing 8 species (Table 1) Table 2. VHSV has been reported in Atlantic herring (Dixon et al 1997, Mortensen et al 1999, King et al 2001b, sprat (Mortensen et al 1999) and Atlantic cod (Jensen et al 1979, Jørgensen & Olesen 1987, Mortensen et al 1999, Smail 2000, King et al 2001b. This is the first report describing the isolation of VHSV in dab, flounder and plaice, all belonging to the flatfish family Pleuronectidae (some isolates have been used in infection trials and results were published in Skall et al 2004).…”

“…An 'e' in the name indicates that the isolation was made from a single fish, whereas a 'p' indicates isolation from a pooled sample. The species from which the isolates originate, the ICES squares and the corresponding catchment areas are stated (Mortensen et al 1999, King et al 2001b, Brudeseth & Evensen 2002. Most of the fish were thus sampled in areas from which VHSV has either not been isolated from these species or has not been isolated at all.…”

“…Since the first isolation from marine fish of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) from Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in 1979 (Jensen et al 1979, Jørgensen & Olesen 1987, VHSV has been isolated from an increasing number of marine fish species all over the northern hemisphere (Meyers & Winton 1995, Traxler et al 1995, Dixon et al 1997, Kent et al 1998, Mortensen et al 1999, Smail 2000, Takano et al 2000, Cox & Hedrick 2001, King et al 2001b, Kocan et al 2001, Brudeseth & Evensen 2002, Dopazo et al 2002, Olivier 2002, Watanabe et al 2002, Kim et al 2003.…”

Immunohistochemistry and pathology of multiple Great Lakes fish from mortality events associated with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus type IVb

“…Acute clinical signs commonly described for VHSV include skin darkening, anemia, exophthalmia, and epidermal hemorrhages sometimes with ulceration (King et al 2001, Einer-Jensen et al 2006. Internal lesions consist of petechial and/or ecchymotic hemorrhages potentially located in most visceral organs and serosanguinous ascites (Skall et al 2005).…”