Comparison of treatments to inactivate viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV-IVb) in frozen baitfish.

Abstract

Current US state and federal fish health regulations target the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus-IVb (VHSV-IVb) through movement restrictions of live fish; however, they largely ignore the potential for the virus to be spread through commercial distribution and use of frozen baitfish from VHSV-IVb-positive regions. Some state laws do require treatment of frozen baitfish to inactivate VHSV, and additional methods have been proposed, but few scientific studies have examined the efficacy of these treatments. In this study, bluegills Lepomis macrochirus were challenged with VHSV-IVb and frozen to represent standard industry methods, disinfected by various treatments, and tested for infectious VHSV-IVb using virus isolation. The virus was isolated from 70% of fish subjected to 3 freeze/thaw cycles. All other treatment methods were effective in inactivating the virus, including treatment with isopropyl alcohol, mineral oil, salt and borax, and dehydration. Dehydration followed by rehydration is rapid and effective, and therefore, seems to be the best option for inactivating VHSV-IVb present in frozen baitfish while maintaining their usefulness as bait.

• Authors: Nicholas B D Phelps, Andrew E Goodwin, Emily Marecaux, Sagar M Goyal
• Journal: Diseases of aquatic organisms (Dis Aquat Organ) Vol. 102 Issue 3 Pg. 211-6 (Feb 28 2013) ISSN: 0177-5103 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 23446970 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Borates
• Disinfectants
• borax
• Sodium Chloride
• Mineral Oil
• 2-Propanol

Topics

• 2-Propanol (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Borates (pharmacology)
• Dehydration
• Disinfectants
• Fish Diseases (prevention & control, virology)
• Fishes
• Freezing
• Mineral Oil (pharmacology)
• Novirhabdovirus (drug effects, physiology)
• Sodium Chloride (pharmacology)
• Virus Inactivation