VHS in the Great Lakes and what this means for Idaho Keith Johnson, Doug Burton, and Doug Munson Eagle Fish Health Laboratory, IDFG

Why should Idaho be concerned? 16 of Idaho sport fish are susceptible, including trout, salmon, bass, crappie, perch, walleye, and forage species 16 of Idaho sport fish are susceptible, including trout, salmon, bass, crappie, perch, walleye, and forage species Commercial trout industry is concerned Commercial trout industry is concerned Vectors exist that could bring it to Idaho Vectors exist that could bring it to Idaho 20 years of surveillance in Idaho has been negative 20 years of surveillance in Idaho has been negative

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia is the most serious disease of cultured fish worldwide Untreatable viral disease Untreatable viral disease VHS is an “emergency, notifiable” disease by the World Animal Health Organization, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Idaho Department of Agriculture VHS is an “emergency, notifiable” disease by the World Animal Health Organization, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Idaho Department of Agriculture Detection of VHSV requires Destruction of the stock and Disinfection Detection of VHSV requires Destruction of the stock and Disinfection VHS does not infect humans VHS does not infect humans

HerringRainbow troutWalleye

Disease Signs of VHSV Hemorrhagic: Causes leaking of blood from vessels under the skin and in internal organs Septicemia: Virus in blood and spreads throughout the body in circulation Pop eye: Caused by pressure of hemorrhage pushing beneath the eye But: Disease Signs are not always present

How bad can it get? 2006 Freshwater Drum mortality in Lake Erie totaled millions of pounds 2006 Freshwater Drum mortality in Lake Erie totaled millions of pounds “Windrows of fish” along the beach piled up 10’ wide and 4’ high “Windrows of fish” along the beach piled up 10’ wide and 4’ high Detected only from wild stocks-no hatchery stocks infected yet Detected only from wild stocks-no hatchery stocks infected yet Predators are infected from infected forage species Predators are infected from infected forage species

Current VHS Outbreaks:2007 Lake Huron Lake St. Clair Lake Ontario St. Lawrence R. Conesus Lake* Lake Erie Budd Lake* Lake Winnebago* Summer, 2007 NYDEC Surveillance Lake Michigan

Black Crappie Black Crappie Bluegill Bluegill Bluntnose Minnow Bluntnose Minnow Brown Bullhead Brown Bullhead Brown Trout Brown Trout Burbot Burbot Channel catfish Channel catfish Chinook Salmon Chinook Salmon Emerald Shiner Emerald Shiner Freshwater Drum Freshwater Drum Gizzard Shad Gizzard Shad Lake Whitefish Lake Whitefish Largemouth Bass Largemouth Bass Muskellunge Muskellunge Pike Pike Pumpkinseed Pumpkinseed Rainbow Trout Rainbow Trout Rock Bass Rock Bass Round Goby Round Goby Shorthead Redhorse Shorthead Redhorse Silver Redhorse Silver Redhorse Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth Bass Spottail Shiner Spottail Shiner Walleye Walleye White Bass White Bass White Perch White Perch Yellow Perch Yellow Perch VHS Susceptible Freshwater Species (revised Nov, 2007)

3.7%-5% 2.1% Genetic Differences in North American VHS Isolates Coastal virus hosts are marine baitfish like herring and anchovies, some predators Great Lakes hosts are baitfish and wide variety of predators Genetic analysis shows Great Lakes VHS has an East Coast origin

Great Lakes VHS How did it get into the Great Lakes ecosystem? Possibilities Possibilities By movement of infected fish By movement of infected fish Sport fishing (bait minnows, contaminated fishing equipment, contaminated live well water, illegal fish stocking) Sport fishing (bait minnows, contaminated fishing equipment, contaminated live well water, illegal fish stocking) Boating Boating Commercial Ballast Water Commercial Ballast Water Basically – We don’t know how it got here Basically – We don’t know how it got here

VHS Vectors for IDAHO Movement of infected live fish, including baitfish is a proven vector Movement of infected live fish, including baitfish is a proven vector VHS virus persists in frozen fish so frozen baitfish are a potential vector for Idaho VHS virus persists in frozen fish so frozen baitfish are a potential vector for Idaho Great Lakes VHS virus survives for a month in freshwater outside of a fish Great Lakes VHS virus survives for a month in freshwater outside of a fish

Federal Order by APHIS VHS Federal Order was issued in October, 2006 VHS Federal Order was issued in October, 2006 Emergency Action taken to prevent the spread of VHS Emergency Action taken to prevent the spread of VHS Must be followed-up by formal rulemaking expected soon- winter, 2008 Must be followed-up by formal rulemaking expected soon- winter, 2008

Current Provisions Under the APHIS Federal Order for VHS VHS susceptible species are prohibited from moving out of the 8 States and 2 Canadian Provinces bordering the Great Lakes except under certain conditions: VHS susceptible species are prohibited from moving out of the 8 States and 2 Canadian Provinces bordering the Great Lakes except under certain conditions: Movement to slaughter or research and diagnostic labs with adequate disinfection Movement to slaughter or research and diagnostic labs with adequate disinfection Movement of live fish testing negative for VHSV by laboratory assays Movement of live fish testing negative for VHSV by laboratory assays Movement of salmonids from Canada that meet USFWS Title 50 inspection requirements Movement of salmonids from Canada that meet USFWS Title 50 inspection requirements

Implications of VHS for Idaho 20 years surveillance has been negative 20 years surveillance has been negative in cultured and wild fish Idaho sport fishing valued at $360 million Idaho sport fishing valued at $360 million Trout industry valued at $110 million at risk Trout industry valued at $110 million at risk ESA-listed anadromous salmon-would these be destroyed if positive (?) ESA-listed anadromous salmon-would these be destroyed if positive (?) IDFG, ISDA, USFWS, USDA APHIS, commercial aquaculture, and tribal programs need to work cooperatively to prevent introduction IDFG, ISDA, USFWS, USDA APHIS, commercial aquaculture, and tribal programs need to work cooperatively to prevent introduction

What has IDFG done to reduce the risk of introduction? Live fish for bait prohibited (1938) Live fish for bait prohibited (1938) Banned importation of all live fish and frozen baitfish from Great Lakes Basin Banned importation of all live fish and frozen baitfish from Great Lakes Basin Supported APHIS Federal Order Supported APHIS Federal Order Partnering with Idaho Department of Agriculture and trout industry Partnering with Idaho Department of Agriculture and trout industry Import permits of all fish are required from ISDA and IDFG Import permits of all fish are required from ISDA and IDFG Imports allowed only from inspected sources Imports allowed only from inspected sources 2008 IDFG Fishing Rules prohibit use of live aquatic baits 2008 IDFG Fishing Rules prohibit use of live aquatic baits

ISDA Emergency Rule Issued Sept 1, 2007 Issued Sept 1, 2007 All imported fish and eggs require negative inspection results for reportable viruses, including VHS All imported fish and eggs require negative inspection results for reportable viruses, including VHS Import permits required from IDFG & ISDA Import permits required from IDFG & ISDA Inspections of imports for disease and permits is provided by ISDA & IDFG rules Inspections of imports for disease and permits is provided by ISDA & IDFG rules

Captive Wildlife Rules of Idaho Provide for IDFG & ISDA Cooperation Import of live fish permitted by ISDA & IDFG Import of live fish permitted by ISDA & IDFG Releases must be approved by IDFG IDAPA and I.C Releases must be approved by IDFG IDAPA and I.C Inspection for disease and genetic traits of private pond fish (IDAPA & ) both by IDFG and ISDA Inspection for disease and genetic traits of private pond fish (IDAPA & ) both by IDFG and ISDA Records of sales of fish retained for 3 years (I.C ) for traceback Records of sales of fish retained for 3 years (I.C ) for traceback

What more can be done? Minimize Risks of potential vectors: Minimize Risks of potential vectors:  Private ponds: require virus inspection of all suppliers  Importations of live fish must exclude baitfish  Aquatic baits other than fish Education of anglers to reduce risks Education of anglers to reduce risks Support ISDA on Emergency Import Rule Support ISDA on Emergency Import Rule Enforcement of existing import and release rules Enforcement of existing import and release rules Idaho Fish Health and Sterility Management Policy Idaho Fish Health and Sterility Management Policy addresses details of import, transport, and release to public waters and private ponds