Learning Outcome

At the end of this topic, student should be able to:

1. Understand diseases caused by virus.

2. Apply knowledge on how to diagnose and implement prevention,
control & treatment of the diseases.
 INTRODUCTION
• A virus is smaller and simpler than a bacterium.
• In fact, a virus is so small and simple that it is on the borderline
between a living organism and an inanimate particle.
• A virus cannot be seen with an ordinary light microscope, but instead
requires the use of an electron microscope.
• Viruses are submicroscopic pathogens that invade and destroy living
cells, causing the release of large numbers of new particles-viruses-
identical to the original.
• Viruses are essentially a protein coat surrounding a core of nucleic
acid-genetic material.
 Classified as deemed parasites since virus unable to carry out
metabolism or reproduction without the assistance of a host cell.

Viruses consist of a single DNA and RNA Characteristics Viruses cannot exist independently
molecule wrapped in a protein package. of virus and not considered as a life-form.

Virus they take control of the cell’s metabolic machinery and force
it to synthesize nucleic acids and proteins for new virus particles.
 GLOSSARY OF FISH HEALTH TERMS
Abscess a localized inflammation and swelling, frequently filled with necrotic debris and white blood
cells.
Acute severe or crucial, often progressing rapidly; i.e., acute inflammation.
Adhesion the abnormal fibrous union of an organ or part to another.
Antibiotic a chemical substance produced by living organisms, usually mold or bacteria, that is capable of
inhibiting other organisms.
carrier an individual harboring the specific organism(s) which can cause a disease, without indication
of signs of the disease.
Clinical when applied to a disease or signs of disease, a
term that indicates a condition is readily
apparent, overt, or obvious by gross inspection.
Coagulation the process of clotting.
 GLOSSARY OF FISH HEALTH TERMS
Edema excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissue space or body cavities.
Epizootic outbreak of disease attacking many animals in a population at the same time and rapidly
spreading.
Etiology the study of the causes of a disease
Gross pathology pathology that deals with the superficial or overt appearance of organs and tissues.
Hemolysis destruction of erythrocytes.
Hemorrhage an escape of blood from the vessels, either through intact blood vessel walls or through
ruptured vessels
Histopathology the study of microscopic changes in diseased tissue
 GLOSSARY OF FISH HEALTH TERMS
Inflammation the reaction of the tissues to infection or injury characterized clinically by swelling and
redness.
Lesion any visible alteration in the normal structure of organs, tissues, or cells.
Lysozyme an enzyme which is capable of destroying certain bacterial cell walls.
Melanin a dark pigment responsible for the yellow to black coloration of fishes.
Necrosis The process of death of cells or tissues within the living body.
Septicemia Generally involving the significant invasion of the bloodstream by microorganisms; a
severe bacterial infection in the blood
Ulcer An open sore or a break in the skin or a mucous membrane with loss of surface tissue;
localized disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue.
 2) Channel
Catfish
Virus
Disease 3)
(CCVD) Infectious
Hematopoi

Common
etic
1) Spring Necrosis
Viraemia of (IHN)
Carp
Fish Viral (SVC)/Carp
Disease 5) Viral

Diseases
Complex Haemorhag
ic
Septicaemi
4) Viral a (VHS)
Nervous
Necrosis
(VNN)
Carp Disease Complex
1) Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC)
• Acute stages . Very serious systemic disease
• Very serious disease problem in cyprinid culture in Europe and Asia in
common carps (Cyprinus carpio) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) culture

• A complex disease problem aka :-

o Infectious Dropsy
o Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
o Rubella
o Infectious Ascites
Transmission of SVC
• Incubation and infection progress depend on temperature,
species, age and other management factors
• SVC normally occurs in spring season, temperature between 15-
20oC

• Most visceral organs shows pathology

• Virus can be isolated from all infected organs including brain

• Survived fish becomes a carrier.

Carp Disease Complex
2) Swim Bladder Inflammation (SBI)
• Acute and chronic stage. Very infectious and lethal, but different
pathology with SVC.
• Tranmission: Occurs at 15-20 oC and terminates as temperature
drops to 13oC
• Long time (1-2 month during summer, 8 month at 16 oC)
• Young fish up to 2incubation years susceptible
• No clear sign on chronic stages but at least 20-30% was infected
Infected fish

Haemorrhages on body
Distended abdomen Exopthalmia

Haemorhages swim bladder

Largeand
Large anddeep
deepulcer
ulcer
 2) Channel Catfish Viral Disease (CCVD)
Epizootiology and geographical
distribution
• Infected Ictalurus punctatus juveniles
ages less than 4 months
• Cause acute haemorrhagic disease
lead to high mortality
• Serious problem in channel catfish
culture in North and South America
 Pale,
haemorrhagic
gills

Circling swimming motion; circling on

Haemorrhages on the abdomen, fins
and in visceral organs their sides, convulsion, sinks to the
bottom

Gross
Pathology
Swollen abdomen and containing
mucus-like fluid Floating with head hanging at
water surface

Survived fish
Exophthalmia becomes a
carrier
 Juvenile channel catfish
(I.punctatus): Darkening of the
body, swollen abdomen,
Swollen abdomen exophthalmia
Exophthalmia

Enveloped virions

Enlarged haemorrhagic
kidney, liver, spleen
Prevention and Treatment
• Aquaculturalists maintain good water quality, and they especially
maintain dissolved oxygen concentration at 4 ppm or higher.
• They do not overcrowd the fish.
• They handle them only when necessary, during the first summer and
avoid the use of chemical prophylactics.
• Disinfecting nets, tubs, and other equipment used when fish are
handled or transported and purchasing fry from virus-free broodstock
help prevent CCVD.
• No therapeutic agents are available for CCVD.
 3) Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
Epizootiology and geographical
distribution
• Infectious disease in salmonid fishes
caused by Rhabdovirus
• Causing extensive mortality in fry
stage in hatchery
• Serious problem in Europe, America
and Asia
Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)
• Survivors of the disease are carriers.
• The main avenues for infection are fish-to-fish and fish-to-eggs.
• Feeding the fish with by-products made from infected fish also
transmits the disease.
• Mortality is high in young fish, but resistance to the virus appears to
increase with age.
 Gross Pathology
External
✓ Lethargy or hyperactive ✓ Incubation and appearance of
(spinning swimming) clinical signs depends on
✓ Swollen abdomen Exophthalmia ✓ Temperature (optimum 10o
C)
✓ Anemia with pale gills ✓ Mortality highest in 8-14 days
✓ Hemorrhage in muscles and at up to 80%
fin base ✓ Temp. higher than 10oC: more
acute signs but low mortality
✓ Darkening of the body
✓ Survived fish may shows
✓ Stringy fecal cast deformed vertebrate
 Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)

Stomach and intestines filled with milky fluid.

Petechial hemorrhage on mesentery or visceral tissues and muscles
 Prevention and Treatment
• The only prevention is to avoid infected eggs, fish, and feed.
• No therapeutic agents are available.
• When an infection occurs, infected fish must be destroyed, and the
facility disinfected.
 4) Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) Disease
Epizootiology and geographical
distribution:
• Also known as Viral Encephalopathy
and Retinopathy (VER)
• Infected larvae and juveniles of
marine species in Asia, Australia,
Europe and North America
• Reported affected sea bass, groupers,
jack, parrot fish, puffer and flatfish.
 Typical clinical signs, vary with fish age and species

Gross
Pathology
Seen in larvae and fry ages 12 to 40 days post hatch (dph)

Typically present with hyper inflated swim bladders and appear lethargic,
laying on their sides at the surface

If disease persists more than 40 dph, infected fish appear disoriented and swim in
a spiral pattern (corkscrew) , sinking to the bottom and float again
 Clinical sign
All diseases are characterized by a variety of neurological abnormalities,
such as erratic swimming behavior
(spiral, whirling or belly-up at rest)
5) Viral Haemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)
Epizootiology and geographical
distribution
• Widespread and contagious disease
of Rainbow trout in Europe
• Disease occurrence when
temperature below 8oC
• Incubation period depends on temp.,
route of infection (gills) and fish size
 Gross Pathology
External
✓ Infection causes systemic ✓ Exophthalmia with
viraemia with pathologies seen hemorrhages in eye orbit.
in many organs ✓ Hemorrhage in oral cavity
✓ Lethargy, `listless', hanging on ✓ Pale gills with hemorrhage
water surface and then
✓ Darkening of body
dropped to pond’s bottom.
✓ In terminal stage: fish
swimming erratically (spiralling)
 Gross Pathology
Internal
✓ Empty intestine, swollen
kidneys, spleenomegaly,
hepatomegaly
✓ Pale liver with petechial
hemorrhages
✓ Hemorrhages in swim-bladder
and intestines
✓ Hyperemic kidney
THANK YOU