Spread of the Exotic Zebra Mussel

Why is she blogging about zebra mussels? Zebra mussels are an invasive species. They were first detected in the Great Lakes in 1988, in Lake St. Clair, located between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. It is believed they were accidentally introduced into the lakes in the ballast water of ocean-going ships traversing the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Now to the point. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) was first identified in the Great Lakes. VHS is a virus that has caused significant die-offs of different species of fish. I have heard it said that the spread of VHS might mimic that of the zebra mussel. I found this web site that follows the spread of the zebra mussel through the years. Take a look. Interesting.

United States Geological Survey Florida Integrated Science Center

Genetic Research by USGS on Great Lakes VHS Strain

Winton and co-authors Gael Kurath and William Batts recently authored a new USGS fact sheet that describes important genetic information about isolates of VHSV from Great Lakes region (see http://wfrc.usgs.gov/pubs/factsheetpdf/vhsfs2011108.pdf).Other strains of the VHS virus are found in continental Europe, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea and North Sea.

"This Great Lakes strain appears to have an exceptionally broad host range," said Winton. "Significant die-offs have occurred in muskellunge, freshwater drum, yellow perch, round goby, emerald shiners and gizzard shad."

Genetic research at the WFRC and by colleagues from Canada showed that this strain of the virus was probably introduced into the Great Lakes in the last 5 to 10 years, and that the fish die-offs occurring among different species and in different lakes should be considered as one large ongoing epidemic. The USGS genetic research also indicated that the Great Lakes' strain of the virus was not from Europe, where three other strains of the virus occur, but more likely had its origin among marine or estuarine fish of the Atlantic seaboard of North America. The strain is genetically most like samples of VHSV recovered during 2000-2004 from diseased fish in areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.

The Great Lakes' strain has now been isolated from more than 25 species of fish in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Saint Lawrence River and from inland lakes in New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Experts fear the disease could potentially spread from the Great Lakes into new populations of native fish in the 31 states of the Mississippi River basin. Also, if VHS virus is introduced into the aquaculture industry, it could lead to trade restrictions as well as direct losses from the disease.

Amendment to List of Species Affected by the APHIS VHS Federal Order

On November 8, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amended the list of species affected by the Federal Order on Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). The stakeholder announcement describing the changes to the list can be viewed at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/

This is a direct link to the new list:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/aquaculture/downloads/vhs_fed_order.pdf

Common carp is not included on this amended list. But you can view the species that are. Be aware that species are being evaluated if they are susceptible to VHS.