Publication Abstract

Studies on the resistance of selected families of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.), to koi herpesvirus.

Studies on the resistance of selected families of common carp Cyprinus carpio (L.), to koi herpesvirus.

P.F. Dixon*, C.L. Joiner*, K. Way*, R.A. Reese*, G. Jeney  and Z. Jeney

In order to explore the potential of producing strains of carp resistant to koi herpesvirus (KHV), we have investigated the survival of a large number of carp families following exposure to the virus.  Ninety four families of carp were produced by diallele crossing of four strains of carp (Duna, Amur, Tata and HAKI 15) maintained in a live gene bank at HAKI, Hungary. Twenty fish of each family were transported to the Cefas laboratory in the UK where they were exposed to KHV in two separate cohabitation challenges – a pre-study and a main study.  Overall, the cumulative mortality in the main study was 93.9%, but analysis of mortality patterns of individual families showed that a small number of families were more resistant to the virus;  the cumulative mortality of the five most resistant families ranged from 47-57%.  Crosses including wild strains of carp (Amur and Duna) may be important for production of KHV-resistant carp.  Survival analysis showed that overall, male parentage had a higher effect on mortality than female parentage, and more specifically, having a male from family HAKI 15 conferred a substantially increased hazard whereas a female from the Amur strain conferred an almost significant benefit.  Preliminary results of proteomic analysis are also discussed.

P.F. Dixon*, C.L. Joiner*, K. Way*, R.A. Reese*, G. Jeney and Z. Jeney

European Association of Fish Pathologists, Diseases of Fish and Shellfish XIV International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 14-19 September 2009. Oral presentation O-120.