Spring Viraemia of Carp

What is spring viraemia of carp?

Spring viraemia of carp is an infectious disease of finfish. It is caused by a virus called spring viraemia of carp virus, which belongs to the family Rhabdoviridae.

What species of finfish can be infected with spring viraemia of carp?

Each species of finfish may have several common names, but only one common name is listed.

Species susceptible to spring viraemia of carp that exist in the natural environment in Canada include:

  • Carassius auratus (goldfish)
  • Ctenopharyngodon idella (grass carp)
  • Cyprinus carpio (common carp)
  • Esox lucius (northern pike)
  • Lepomis gibbosus* (pumpkinseed*)
  • Tinca tinca (tench)

Species susceptible to spring viraemia of carp that currently do not exist in the natural environment in Canada include:

  • Carassius carassius (crucian carp)
  • Cyprinus carpio koi (koi carp)
  • Danio rerio (zebra danio)
  • Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (silver carp)
  • Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (bighead carp)
  • Leuciscus idus (orfe)
  • Poecilia reticulata* (guppy*)
  • Rutilus rutilus (roach)
  • Silurus glanis* (wels catfish*)

Note: Species identified with an asterisk have not been confirmed as susceptible to spring viraemia of carp.

Is spring viraemia of carp a risk to human health?

No. The causal agent of spring viraemia of carp is not a risk to human health.

What are the signs of spring viraemia of carp?

Spring viraemia of carp is a cause of death in hatched life stages of susceptible, freshwater finfish. Normally, less than 30 percent of infected animals will die, but the death rate in infected animals can range from 5 percent to 100 percent.

Affected finfish may exhibit any of the following signs:

  • behaviour
    • fish lying on their sides, often at the bottom of the tank
    • fish congregating where water flow is slow and near the sides of ponds
  • appearance
    • dark skin colour
    • bulging eyes
    • pale gills (areas of bleeding may be present)
    • areas of bleeding in the skin, eyes, vent and at the base of fins
    • enlarged vent
    • swollen belly filled with fluid
    • inflamed, bleeding or swollen spleen, kidney, intestines and air bladder
    • areas of pinpoint bleeding in the fatty tissue surrounding organs, stomach wall and muscles
    • empty intestine (it may contain mucus)
    • trailing fecal casts

Is spring viraemia of carp found in Canada?

Yes. In Canada, spring viraemia of carp has been found in Ontario.

How is spring viraemia of carp spread?

Spring viraemia of carp is spread between finfish by

  • contaminated water, and
  • contaminated equipment.

People can spread spring viraemia of carp by moving any of the following:

  • infected live or dead finfish,
  • contaminated equipment, or
  • contaminated water.

How is spring viraemia of carp diagnosed?

Diagnosing spring viraemia of carp requires laboratory testing. Not all infected finfish show signs of disease.

How is spring viraemia of carp treated?

There are no treatment options currently available for spring viraemia of carp.

What measures can be taken to prevent the introduction and spread of spring viraemia of carp?

If you frequently handle or work with finfish, be aware of the clinical signs of spring viraemia of carp.

Do not import live infected finfish into Canada.

  • An import permit is required from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for certain species of finfish as of December 2011.
  • People bringing finfish into Canada should check other federal, provincial, and/or territorial requirements before entering the country.

Do not introduce live finish from another country into the natural waters of Canada.

  • People releasing finfish into the natural waters or into rearing facilities within Canada should check if federal or provincial and/or territorial permits are required.

If you frequently handle or work with finfish, be aware of where spring viraemia of carp occurs in your area.

  • A federal, provincial and/or territorial permit or licence may be required to relocate finfish within Canada.

Do not use finfish bought in a grocery store as bait for catching finfish or other aquatic animals.

When cleaning and gutting finfish, dispose of all waste in your municipal garbage.

The CFIA recommends that you do not visit Canadian aquaculture sites, zoos or aquariums for 14 days if you have travelled to another country and

  • visited an aquaculture site, or
  • had contact with wild finfish.

Wash and disinfect the footwear you wore to the site or when you had contact with wild finfish. Also wash your clothing thoroughly and dry it at a high temperature.

What is done to protect Canadian aquatic animals from spring viraemia of carp?

Spring viraemia of carp is a reportable disease in Canada. This means that anyone who owns or works with aquatic animals, who knows of or suspects spring viraemia of carp in their fish, is required by law to notify the CFIA.

If spring viraemia of carp is found in Canada, the CFIA would control its spread by implementing disease response activities. These may include

  • controlling the movements of infected animals that people own or work with
  • humanely destroying infected animals
  • cleaning and disinfecting

The control measures chosen would depend on the situation.

What do I do if I think finfish that I am raising or keeping have spring viraemia of carp?

If you suspect a finfish that you are raising or keeping may have spring viraemia of carp, you are required under the Health of Animals Act to immediately notify the CFIA.

How do I get more information?

Contact your CFIA Area office

  • Atlantic: 506-851-7651
  • Quebec: 514-283-8888
  • Ontario: 519-837-9400
  • West: 403-292-4301

You can find your local CFIA Animal Health Office

  • on the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca, or
  • by consulting the blue pages of your local phone directory.