VHS
Viral
🔴 Fatal
🔔 OIE Notifiable
Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
🦠 Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) · Rhabdoviridae
📋 Overview
VHS has the broadest host range of any fish virus — over 80 wild and farmed species are susceptible. It is a major threat to rainbow trout aquaculture in Europe and caused catastrophic mortality events in Lake Erie and the Great Lakes after introduction of the IVb strain in 2005.
📊 Key Facts
Causative Agent
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV)
Agent Family
Rhabdoviridae
Genome Type
ssRNA, negative-sense
Geographic Range
Europe (all), North America Great Lakes (VHSV IVb), North Pacific
Transmission Routes
Water-borne, horizontal, wild carrier fish (herring, sprat)
Primary Host
Rainbow Trout, Turbot, Herring, >50 species
Vaccine
✗ None / Experimental
🩺 Clinical Signs
Haemorrhages in muscle, eyes, skin and viscera; exophthalmia; anaemia; abnormal swimming; darkening of skin.
🔬 Symptoms
🔬
Petechial haemorrhages in muscle
Musculoskeletal Acute
🔬
Exophthalmia
Ophthalmic Acute
🔬
Skin darkening
Integumentary Subacute
🔬
Anaemia
Circulatory Acute
🧪 Diagnosis
Cell culture (BF-2, EPC), RT-PCR, virus neutralisation test.
💊 Treatment
⚠️ No universally approved treatment is currently available. The information below covers supportive care and experimental approaches.
No treatment available. Stamping out on farms.
🛡️ Prevention
ℹ️ Prevention is the most effective strategy for managing this disease in aquaculture and aquarium settings.
Biosecurity, movement restrictions, disinfection of water supply.