Publication Abstract

Detection of VHS in fish tissues by semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

H.K. Strommen and D.M. Stone

Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), the causative agent of viral haemorrnagic septicaemia (VHS) is a rhabdovirus belonging to the Lyssavirus group. VHS is primarily a disease of salmonids, and as such poses a serious threat to the farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations in the UK which have not been exposed to it. There is, however, little known regarding the original source of the disease in Europe.

In 1994, an outbreak of VHS was diagnosed in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) farmed on the Island of Gigha, Scotland (Ross et al., 1994), and in accordance with the Fish Diseases Contingency Plans for Great Britain (Fish Health Re ulations 1992, Diseases of Fish Act 1937) all fish on the infected site were slaughtered and the farm site was disinfected. This area has now been excluded from the GB VHS-free approved zone.

Reference:

H.K. Strommen and D.M. Stone, 1998. Detection of VHS in fish tissues by semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). pp203-209 In: Methodology in Fish Diseases Research. (Barnes, A.C. et al. (eds)). Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen