Why Biosecurity is The Best Defence Against Tilapia Lake Virus

The first confirmed case of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) in the\r\nUSA emphasises the need for producers to ensure biosecurity is a top priority,\r\naccording to a leading US tilapia breeder.

Last month, USDA APHIS released a\r\nstatement outlining that the virus – an RNA virus that was previously detected\r\nin Asia, Africa, Central and South America – had been reported in Idaho. There\r\nis no current treatment or vaccine available.

 “Although this\r\nfinding was controlled appropriately by the authorities, and the correct\r\nmeasures were taken to avoid losing containment on the outbreak, it highlights\r\nthe importance of biosecurity and health surveillance programmes,” reflects\r\nHideyoshi Segovia, commercial and operations manager at Spring Genetics.

“It is important for producers to source fingerlings and\r\nbrood stock from known and trusted sources that have the proper documentation\r\nensuring that their fish are in healthy condition,” adds Segovia.

Spring Genetics, part of Benchmark, has operated a biosecure\r\nclosed breeding nucleus to which no external fish have been introduced since it\r\nwas established in 2009. It has been screening against TiLV for the past three\r\nyears as a standard practice.

The company undergoes a stringent health surveillance\r\nprogramme that screens for known pathogens that cause diseases in tilapia, as\r\nwell as screening against pathogens that may cause disease and affect tilapia\r\nproduction. It has never detected TiLV in its stock.

The company’s screening programme randomly tests several batches\r\nof fish from the nucleus operation, on a quarterly basis, against pathogens\r\nsuch tilapia lake virus (TilV), infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV),\r\ninfectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), Francisella, Streptococcus,\r\nAeromonas and Edwarsiella, among other key pathogens. In addition,\r\ntesting is done in every single batch of fish that is being shipped to a\r\nclient, the testing to these batches is specific to the requirements the\r\nimporter country demands.

“Spring Genetics subjects itself to the strictest testing\r\npossible to protect their clients, OIE testing for all tilapia diseases are\r\ncompleted a minimum of four times per year, and the programme is in place to\r\nensure that we can continue being a trusted source of broodstock and\r\nsex-reversed fingerlings for the industry,” Segovia continues.

Spring Genetics is governed by the Florida Department of\r\nAquaculture and has been a permit holder since 2009. The company has been\r\napproved by the USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services as an aquaculture export\r\nfacility for Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia).

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“Acquiring fingerlings from Spring Genetics should represent\r\npeace of mind for our clients when it comes to biosecurity and disease risk\r\nmanagement. This, coupled with high-quality genetics, and genetic programmes\r\nfocused on growth, resilience and disease resistance, provides a significant\r\nopportunity for our clients to improve the productivity and sustainability of\r\ntheir business,” Segovia concludes.

Source : The Fish Site