New Viral Disease in Asian Sea Bass Detected: Click to Know

December 13: The department of Aquatic Animal Health Management (AAHM) in College of Fisheries, Mangalore has detected a new viral disease in Asian sea bass, hitherto unknown in Indian waters.
The fish were infected with Red Sea bream Iridovirus (RSIV), which was first observed in Japanese cultured red sea bream farm in 1990’s. Dr A Senthil Vel, Professor and Dean (Fisheries), Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University Mangalore said that in the year 2018-19, fish farmers in Udupi region informed about mortality of Asian Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) grown in cages. The disease affected fishes exhibited abnormal behavior and and clinical signs including slow-moving, lethargy, reduced feeding, erratic movement along the sides of the cages.
A team of pathologists including Dr Girisha S K, Puneeth T G, Nithin M S, Dr Naveen Kumar B T, Dr Ajay S K, Dr Vinay T N, Dr Suresh T, Dr Venugopal M N and Dr Ramesh K S from the department of Aquatic Animal Health Management (AAHM), College of Fisheries, Mangaluru analysed samples. More than 30 marine and brackish water fish species such as Sea bass, Grouper fish and Red sea bream etc., are known to be susceptible to this virus. This virus can causes mortality up to 100% depending on host fish species, size, age, water temperature and other culture conditions. The main tarorgans for RSIV are spleen, kidney, heart, intestine and gill.
AAHM in the College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, has been carrying out disease surveillance programmes under the “National Surveillance of Aquatic Animal Disease”project in both freshwater and brackish water cultured fishes. The programme was initiated by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow. The prime objective of the project is to create awareness about emerging aquatic animal diseases and preventive measures among the fish farmers in the regions where fish culture and shrimp farming are being carried out.
However, proper scientific management practices can be adopted to control and prevent the spread of RSIV such as stocking pathogen-free fish, implementing hygiene practices on farms, avoiding practices that can decrease water quality such as overcrowding and overfeeding. Fish farmers can contact: 0842-2246384 for help from College experts.