ODNR Confirms VHS in muskie at Clear Fork Reservoir

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:02 pm

ODNR CONFIRMS FINDING THE VHS VIRUS IN MUSKIE AT CLEAR FORK RESERVOIR IN NORTH-CENTRAL OHIO

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has confirmed that viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHSv), a virus that causes disease in fish but does not pose any threat to public health, was confirmed present in muskellunge sampled during routine egg collection in Clear Fork Reservoir in late April. The reservoir is located in Richland and Morrow counties.

The virus was found in ovarian fluid samples collected from the muskellunge as part of routine ODNR testing for VHSv, but has not resulted in a fish kill. The samples were sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Fish Health Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, where the VHSv virus was initially isolated. It was later confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Ames, Iowa.

These results mark the first isolation of VHSv outside the Great Lakes Basin. Fisheries officials believe VHSv has been a factor in recent fish kills of several species of fish in the Great Lakes that correspond with the end of spring spawning.

VHSv was first isolated as a virus in 1963, and is presumed responsible for European fish kills as far back as 1938. In 1988, the virus was first detected in marine fishes in the Pacific Northwest. VHSv is a pathogen of international concern and is reportable to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

In 2005, VHSv was first reported in the Great Lakes, but may have been responsible for fish kills since 2003. VHSv has been responsible for numerous fish kills in lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Ontario. The virus has also been the cause of fish mortality in several inland lakes in the states of Michigan, New York and Wisconsin - all within the Great Lakes Basin.

As a result, APHIS issued an emergency order in 2006 restricting the interstate movement of live fish of susceptible species from the states and provinces of the Great Lakes. Many states around the Great Lakes, including Ohio, developed their own emergency orders restricting intrastate movement to protect other watersheds within their states. For a list of susceptible species, visit APHIS's Web site.

"One likely possibility is that VHS will act like many other viruses in the environment. Typically, viruses or bacteria infect fish, which may lead to disease in the fish if they are susceptible. Once the disease is expressed in these fish, some percentage of the population will die," said Ray Petering, chief of the DNR Fisheries Division. "Those remaining will survive and will develop immunity to the viruses or bacteria that cause a disease. Since there are no large-scale treatments for VHS that can be applied to fish in the wild, the presence of this new virus may result in spring fish mortalities that are abnormally high for a few years, as more fish encounter the virus. These mortalities may abate as fish begin to build immunity to the virus."

Citizens are encouraged to report sick fish or fish kills by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or use the ODNR Web site, then from the topic list select: Wildlife - Fishing & Hunting.

Anglers should contact the ODNR if they observe large numbers of fish exhibiting any of the following: hemorrhaging in the skin, including large red patches particularly on the sides and on the head; multiple hemorrhages on the liver, spleen, or intestines; or hemorrhages on the swim bladder that give the otherwise transparent organ a mottled appearance.
This information will help ODNR track VHS and take appropriate actions to slow the spread of this virus. Anglers and boaters can help prevent the spread of VHS and other viruses or bacteria that cause disease in fish by not transferring fish between water bodies, and thoroughly cleaning boats, trailers, nets and other equipment when traveling between different lakes and streams.

The use of a contact disinfectant such as a solution of 200 ppm chlorine bleach (5.1 ounces per 10 gallons of water) to clean vessels and live wells is very effective against VHS and other viruses and bacteria that cause disease in fish. Soaking exposed items such as live wells, nets, anchors and bait buckets in a light disinfectant of 20 ppm chlorine solution (5.1 ounces of liquid household bleach per 100 gallons of water) for 30 minutes is also an effective method to prevent the spread of a wide range of aquatic nuisance species.

Routine surveillance, disinfection of eggs used in fish production, public education and additional VHS research will continue by the ODNR, Ohio Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in an effort to minimize the spread of VHS and protect fish hatcheri

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For Additional Information, Contact:
Becky Lasee, Director, LaCrosse (WI) Fish Health Center, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
(608) 783-8444
Jason Holm, Assistant Regional Director (External Affairs), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, (612) 713-5310
Elmer Heyob, State Fish Hatchery Administrator, Ohio Department of Natural

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:05 pm

I know the MMA members are smart enough not to be taking trips to the Clear Fork area.
No need to risk bringing any VHS back to Michigan.

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:15 pm

Clear Fork fish virus only found only in muskie, so far

MANSFIELD -- A virus found in muskellunge fish eggs at Clear Fork Reservoir poses no threat to human health, according to the State Fish Hatchery Administrator Elmer Heyob, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

......."We tested the bluegills and others, but they were clean," Heyob said. "And we'll still keep stocking the Clear Fork with muskies. We just won't take eggs from there."

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/app ... /806190326

Scott Williams · Post by **Scott Williams** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:10 pm

Hamilton Reef wrote:I know the MMA members are smart enough not to be taking trips to the Clear Fork area.
No need to risk bringing any VHS back to Michigan.

It shouldn't be an issue if they are following the safety precautions. I use a light bleach solution after fishing Lake Macatawa, because I would imagine there is a VHS infected fish somewhere in the system. I would suspect the same to be true in Muskegon Lake, White Lake or any body of water that is in contact with Great Lakes. As long as you do the work to disinfect your boat it shouldn't stop you from fishing anywhere.

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:15 am

Scott and the MMA members are more aware of VHS and practice boat hygene more than the general public I see at the launches. Thanks.

Post by **Will Schultz** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:27 am

I wasn't surprised at all when I heard about this last week. Clearfork is fished by MANY anglers that frequent the St Clair system. I've run into Elmer, the the biologist mentioned in the artcile, a few times on the Detroit River.

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:19 pm

Fish disease remains a moving target

"My guess is that was caused by someone moving infected bait," said Gary Whelen, Michigan DNR's fish production manager and the chairman for the multi-agency Great Lakes Fish Health Committee.

"That probably happened a couple of years ago. That's how it got into Lake Winnebago and Budd Lake."

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf ... oving.html

Hamilton Reef · Post by **Hamilton Reef** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:31 pm

OH - Local fish cleared of VHS

Ovarian fluid was collected from muskellunges in April and identified as VHS by molecular techniques at the end of May. The Great Lakes strain of the virus affects 28 different species and is different than the VHS strains in Europe and in the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America.

Morton Pugh of the St. Marys Fish Hatchery said every fish at the hatchery was tested in the spring, including muskies, yellow perch, bass and catfish.

Pugh said the muskies were tested using ovarian fluid because they’re too valuable and other species have been killed for testing. Officials do not separate the sexes of the fish during testing.

“With most species it’s difficult to tell if the fish is male or female,” he said, which would impact the testing.

Symptoms for VHS include hemorrhaging of internal organs, skin and muscle, and external bleeding can be visible in the eyes, gills and in the bases of the fins

http://www.theeveningleader.com/content/view/99091/1/