Proposed activities for koi herpesvirus disease at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department

Abstract

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is a regional treaty organization with 11 member countries. This was established in 1967 to promote fisheries development in Southeast Asia. As one of four SEAFDEC departments, the Aquaculture Department based in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines, has conducted activities for aquaculture research and development in the region. Since 2000, the Regional Fish Disease Project has been implemented at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department through the Government of Japan Trust Fund. Under this project, research studies were conducted on various aspects of viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases of fishes and shrimps. In East Asia, koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease initially occurred in Indonesia and Taiwan in 2002. KHV infection was also found in Japan in 2003. This disease had a serious, devastating impact on common carp and koi (Cyprinus carpio) production in Indonesia and common carp production in Japan. Common carp is an important food resource in the rural areas of the region, while koi is internationally traded as ornamental fish among Southeast Asian countries. Under these situations, the Regional Fish Disease Project identified KHV as a serious, transboundary pathogen in the region and decided to work on KHV disease at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department in coordination with the SEAFDEC member countries to prevent the spread of KHV in the region. The planned research includes survey of the distribution of KHV in the region, standardization of the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) detection method, characterization of the virus isolated from the region, mode of transmission of KHV, and pathophysiology of KHV-infected fish. To support establishment of the fish disease quarantine and surveillance in Southeast Asia, the Regional Fish Disease Project has, since 2002, annually conducted a hands-on training at the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department on viral diseases of fishes and shrimps for scientists and technical staff from the SEAFDEC member countries. The trainees are expected to play key roles in the diagnosis, prompt information exchange, and surveillance of fish diseases, including KHV disease, in their respective countries. The Regional Fish Disease Project organized two meetings in March 2004 and will convene another meeting in June 2004: Pre-KHVD Symposium Meeting, International Symposium on Koi Herpesvirus Disease, and Meeting on Current Status of Transboundary Fish Diseases in Southeast Asia: Occurrence, Surveillance, Research and Training.