VHS in the Great VHS in the Great Lakes and what Lakes and what this means for this means for

IdahoIdaho

Keith Johnson, Doug Burton, and Keith Johnson, Doug Burton, and Doug MunsonDoug Munson

Eagle Fish Health Laboratory, IDFG Eagle Fish Health Laboratory, IDFG

Why should Idaho be Why should Idaho be concerned?concerned?

16 of Idaho sport fish are susceptible, 16 of Idaho sport fish are susceptible, including trout, salmon, bass, crappie, including trout, salmon, bass, crappie, perch, walleye, and forage speciesperch, walleye, and forage species

Commercial trout industry is concernedCommercial trout industry is concerned Vectors exist that could bring it to IdahoVectors exist that could bring it to Idaho 20 years of surveillance in Idaho has 20 years of surveillance in Idaho has

been negativebeen negative

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia is the most serious disease of cultured fish worldwide

Untreatable viral diseaseUntreatable viral disease VHS is an “emergency, notifiable” VHS is an “emergency, notifiable”

disease by the World Animal Health disease by the World Animal Health Organization, USDA Animal and Organization, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Idaho Department of AgricultureIdaho Department of Agriculture

Detection of VHSV Detection of VHSV requires requires DestructionDestruction of the stock of the stock andand DisinfectionDisinfection

VHS VHS does notdoes not infect humans infect humans

Herring Rainbow trout Walleye

Disease Signs of VHSV

Hemorrhagic: Causes leaking of blood from vessels under the skin and in internal organs

Septicemia: Virus in blood and spreads throughout the body in circulation

Pop eye: Caused by pressure of hemorrhage pushing beneath the eye

But: Disease Signs are not always present

How bad can it get?How bad can it get? 2006 Freshwater Drum mortality in 2006 Freshwater Drum mortality in

Lake Erie totaled millions of poundsLake Erie totaled millions of pounds ““Windrows of fish” along the beach Windrows of fish” along the beach

piled up 10’ wide and 4’ highpiled up 10’ wide and 4’ high Detected only from Detected only from wild stocks-no wild stocks-no

hatchery stocks infected yethatchery stocks infected yet Predators are infected from infected Predators are infected from infected

forage speciesforage species

Current VHS Outbreaks:2007

Lake Huron

Lake St. Clair

Lake Ontario

St. Lawrence R.

Conesus Lake*

Lake Erie

Budd Lake*

Lake Winnebago*

Summer, 2007 NYDEC Surveillance

Lake Michigan

Black CrappieBlack Crappie BluegillBluegill Bluntnose MinnowBluntnose Minnow Brown BullheadBrown Bullhead Brown TroutBrown Trout BurbotBurbot Channel catfishChannel catfish Chinook SalmonChinook Salmon Emerald ShinerEmerald Shiner Freshwater DrumFreshwater Drum Gizzard ShadGizzard Shad Lake WhitefishLake Whitefish Largemouth BassLargemouth Bass MuskellungeMuskellunge

PikePike PumpkinseedPumpkinseed Rainbow TroutRainbow Trout Rock BassRock Bass Round GobyRound Goby Shorthead RedhorseShorthead Redhorse Silver RedhorseSilver Redhorse Smallmouth BassSmallmouth Bass Spottail ShinerSpottail Shiner WalleyeWalleye White BassWhite Bass White PerchWhite Perch Yellow PerchYellow Perch

VHS Susceptible Freshwater Species

(revised Nov, 2007)

3.7%-5%3.7%-5%

2.1%2.1%

Genetic Differences in Genetic Differences in North American VHS North American VHS

IsolatesIsolates

Coastal virus hosts are marine baitfish like herring and anchovies, some predators

Great Lakes hosts are baitfish and wide variety of predators

Genetic analysis shows Great Lakes VHS has an East Coast origin

Great Lakes VHSGreat Lakes VHSHow did it get into the How did it get into the

Great Lakes ecosystem?Great Lakes ecosystem?

PossibilitiesPossibilities By movement of infected fishBy movement of infected fish Sport fishing (bait minnows, Sport fishing (bait minnows,

contaminated fishing equipment, contaminated fishing equipment, contaminated live well water, illegal fish contaminated live well water, illegal fish stocking)stocking)

BoatingBoating Commercial Ballast WaterCommercial Ballast Water Basically – We don’t know how it got hereBasically – We don’t know how it got here

VHS Vectors for IDAHOVHS Vectors for IDAHO

Movement of infected live fish, Movement of infected live fish, including baitfish is a proven vectorincluding baitfish is a proven vector

VHS virus persists in frozen fish so VHS virus persists in frozen fish so frozen baitfish are a potential vector frozen baitfish are a potential vector for Idahofor Idaho

Great Lakes VHS virus survives for a Great Lakes VHS virus survives for a month in freshwater outside of a fish month in freshwater outside of a fish

Federal Order by APHISFederal Order by APHIS VHS Federal Order was issued in VHS Federal Order was issued in

October, 2006October, 2006

Emergency Action taken to prevent Emergency Action taken to prevent the spread of VHSthe spread of VHS

Must be followed-up by formal Must be followed-up by formal rulemaking expected soon- winter, rulemaking expected soon- winter, 20082008

Current Provisions Under the Current Provisions Under the APHIS Federal Order for VHSAPHIS Federal Order for VHS

VHS susceptible species are prohibited VHS susceptible species are prohibited from moving out of the 8 States and 2 from moving out of the 8 States and 2 Canadian Provinces bordering the Canadian Provinces bordering the Great Lakes except under certain Great Lakes except under certain conditions:conditions: Movement to slaughter or research and Movement to slaughter or research and

diagnostic labs with adequate disinfectiondiagnostic labs with adequate disinfection

Movement of live fish testing negative for Movement of live fish testing negative for VHSV by laboratory assaysVHSV by laboratory assays

Movement of salmonids from Canada that Movement of salmonids from Canada that meet USFWS Title 50 inspection meet USFWS Title 50 inspection requirementsrequirements

Implications of VHS for Implications of VHS for IdahoIdaho

20 years surveillance has been negative20 years surveillance has been negativein cultured and wild fishin cultured and wild fish

Idaho sport fishing valued at $360 millionIdaho sport fishing valued at $360 million Trout industry valued at $110 million at riskTrout industry valued at $110 million at risk ESA-listed anadromous salmon-would these be ESA-listed anadromous salmon-would these be

destroyed if positive (?)destroyed if positive (?) IDFG, ISDA, USFWS, USDA APHIS, commercial IDFG, ISDA, USFWS, USDA APHIS, commercial

aquaculture, and tribal programs need to aquaculture, and tribal programs need to work work cooperativelycooperatively to prevent introduction to prevent introduction

What has IDFG done to What has IDFG done to reduce the risk of reduce the risk of

introduction?introduction? Live fish for bait prohibited (1938)Live fish for bait prohibited (1938) Banned importation of all live fish and Banned importation of all live fish and

frozen baitfish from Great Lakes Basinfrozen baitfish from Great Lakes Basin Supported APHIS Federal OrderSupported APHIS Federal Order Partnering with Idaho Department of Partnering with Idaho Department of

Agriculture and trout industryAgriculture and trout industry Import permits of all fish are required Import permits of all fish are required

from ISDA and IDFG from ISDA and IDFG Imports allowed only from inspected Imports allowed only from inspected

sourcessources 2008 IDFG Fishing Rules prohibit use of 2008 IDFG Fishing Rules prohibit use of

live aquatic baitslive aquatic baits

ISDA Emergency RuleISDA Emergency Rule Issued Sept 1, 2007Issued Sept 1, 2007 All imported fish and eggs require All imported fish and eggs require

negative inspection results for negative inspection results for reportable viruses, including VHSreportable viruses, including VHS

Import permits required from Import permits required from IDFG & ISDAIDFG & ISDA

Inspections of imports for disease Inspections of imports for disease and permits is provided by ISDA & and permits is provided by ISDA & IDFG rulesIDFG rules

Captive Wildlife Rules of IdahoCaptive Wildlife Rules of IdahoProvide for IDFG & ISDA Provide for IDFG & ISDA

CooperationCooperation ImportImport of live fish permitted by ISDA & of live fish permitted by ISDA &

IDFGIDFG ReleasesReleases must be approved by IDFG must be approved by IDFG

IDAPA 13.01.11.101 and I.C. 36-7IDAPA 13.01.11.101 and I.C. 36-7 Inspection for diseaseInspection for disease and genetic and genetic

traits of private pond fish (IDAPA traits of private pond fish (IDAPA 13.01.10.101.04 & 02.04.21.660) both 13.01.10.101.04 & 02.04.21.660) both by IDFG and ISDAby IDFG and ISDA

Records of sales of fish retained for 3 Records of sales of fish retained for 3 years (I.C. 22-4602) for years (I.C. 22-4602) for tracebacktraceback

What more can be done?What more can be done? Minimize Risks of potential vectors:Minimize Risks of potential vectors:

Private pondsPrivate ponds: require virus inspection of all suppliers: require virus inspection of all suppliers Importations of live fish must Importations of live fish must exclude baitfishexclude baitfish Aquatic baits other than fish Aquatic baits other than fish

EducationEducation of anglers to reduce risks of anglers to reduce risks

Support ISDA on Emergency Import RuleSupport ISDA on Emergency Import Rule

Enforcement of existing import and release rulesEnforcement of existing import and release rules

Idaho Fish Health and Sterility Management Policy Idaho Fish Health and Sterility Management Policy addresses details of import, transport, and release to addresses details of import, transport, and release to public waters and private pondspublic waters and private ponds