SD
Viral
🟡 Moderate
🔔 OIE Notifiable
💉 Vaccine Available
Sleeping Disease
🦠 Sleeping disease virus (SDV / Salmonid alphavirus 2) · Togaviridae
📋 Overview
SD is the freshwater counterpart of Salmon Pancreas Disease (caused by SAV1 and SAV3 in seawater). The virus targets pancreatic acinar cells and cardiac muscle, causing progressive necrosis. Survivor fish may grow poorly and remain persistent carriers.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Sleeping disease virus (SDV / Salmonid alphavirus 2)
Genome Type
ssRNA, positive-sense
Geographic Range
Europe (France, UK, Italy, Poland)
Transmission Routes
Water-borne, horizontal fish-to-fish
Primary Host
Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in freshwater
Treatment
⚠ Supportive only
🩺 Clinical Signs
Fish lying on side at bottom, reduced feeding, fin necrosis, pancreatic exocrine necrosis, cardiomyopathy.
🔬 Symptoms
🔬
Lying on side at bottom
Neurological Acute
🔬
Fin necrosis
Integumentary Subacute
🔬
Pancreatic necrosis
Digestive Acute
🧪 Diagnosis
RT-PCR, virus isolation (CHSE-214, BF-2 cells), histopathology.
💊 Treatment
ℹ️ Treatment options are supportive. Consult a qualified fish health professional.
Supportive; improving water quality, reducing stocking density.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Certified disease-free eggs, vaccination, biosecurity.