Surveillance de la septicemie hemorrahgique virale chez le loup (dicentrarchus labrax) et la daurade (Sparus aurata) d’élevage

Abstract

Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia is an infectious fish disease caused by the viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) that affects fish of over 50 species of freshwater and marine fish worldwide. In the present study, a preliminary epidemiological survey was jointly conducted by the General Veterinary Services Directorate and the National Institute of Sea Science and Technology, under the ENPI cross-border project "Safety and Aquaculture Product Quality”. The objective was to determine the state of concerned fish farms towards the presence of this pathogen. Molecular diagnosis showed that all tested samples were negative to the virus; confirming the absence of VHSV in the studies areas. Viral prevalence was less than 1% in 2012 and 2013 for both fish species; whereas in 2014, prevalence was less than 3% in sea bass fish and less than 2% in sea bream samples. In conclusion, the present simulation of VHS surveillance will be very useful for the development of a national VHS surveillance program for farmed fish in Tunisia.