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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Orono, Maine » National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #407355
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of North American Atlantic Salmon and the Eastern Oyster for Aquaculture Production

Location: National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center

Title: Infectious salmon anemia virus investigations at the USDA National Coldwater Marine Aquaculture Center

Author
item Polinski, Mark
item ROUNSVILLE, THOMAS - University Of Maine
item Lifgren, Demitri
item TURNER, SARAH - University Of Maine
item BOUCHARD, DEBORAH - University Of Maine
item Pietrak, Michael
item Peterson, Brian

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2023
Publication Date: 8/29/2023
Citation: Polinski, M.P., Rounsville, T., Lifgren, D.L., Turner, S., Bouchard, D., Pietrak, M.R., Peterson, B.C. 2023. Infectious salmon anemia virus investigations at the USDA National Coldwater Marine Aquaculture Center. Meeting Abstract. Symposium proceedings.08292023.

Interpretive Summary: ISAV is an internationally regulated virus that infects salmon. There are two genetic forms of the virus - one form that causes serious disease and one that is benign - and each are regulated differently. Recent work at the USDA National Coldwater Marine Aquaculture Center has focused on improving diagnostic methods for rapidly and accurately identifying ISAV variants using a single molecular test as well as investigating the vertical (parent-to-offspring) transmission risk associated with ISAV-HPR0 in a brood stock culture system.

Technical Abstract: Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) can cause a lethal anemic disease in salmon for which culture and movement of infected fish is regulated in most countries. Two phenotypically distinct variants of ISAV, however, complicate risk and associated regulation. One phenotype is the well characterized highly virulent ISAV-HPR' variant associated with anemia, commonly referred to as ISAV-HPR deleted. The second is the avirulent variant known as ISAV-HPR0 which is not associated with disease and has a non-supportive invitrome. Recent work at the USDA National Coldwater Marine Aquaculture Center has focused on improving diagnostic methods for rapidly and accurately identifying ISAV variants using a single molecular test as well as investigating the vertical (parent-to-offspring) transmission risk associated with ISAV-HPR0 in a broodstock culture system. Here we discuss the development of a new rapid multiplex RT-qPCR assay for detecting and differentiating ISAV phenotypes and its validation against more than 30 genetically diverse ISAV isolates collected from North America and Europe processed in 3 international laboratories. We have since used this new assay to screen more than 800 eggs from 16 family crossings of parents with active ISAV-HPR0 infections and conducted additional long-term monitoring of offspring for which derived likelihoods for egg-associated transmission risks will be discussed.