Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

New Tests Will Help Detect Fish Virus

February 20, 2007 -- A new test will help scientists quickly detect a fast-spreading aquatic virus that threatens the Great Lakes fishing industry, according to its developers at Cornell University.

Current tests for the viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus involve culturing cells and can take up to a month. The new technique, which measures viral genetic material, takes only 24 hours to identify the virus, said Paul Bowser, a Cornell professor of aquatic animal medicine.

"Earlier detection of the virus will provide us with a powerful research and diagnostic tool that will greatly aid in efforts to limit the impact of VHSV," Bowser said Thursday. Read the following articles to get the details.

"The virus, which causes internal bleeding in fish but poses no threat to humans, was discovered in the United States in 1988 in Coho and Chinook salmon in the Pacific Northwest. It made its first known appearance in the Great Lakes in 2005, killing freshwater drum and muskellunge."

"We believe that the test we are developing has the capabilities of detecting the virus when it is present in a sample in very low numbers. We believe that this will allow us to detect the virus in both infected fish tissues and in water."

"What you can do to control VHS!
"http://www.dailypress.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=8140

http://www.protectyourwaters.net/news/display.php?id=5501

Sorry, I haven't really been following this stuff until I found out about the new law.  Is VHS what caused the big fish kills this spring on St. Clair?  Everytime we went out there we saw big muskies and largemouths floating dead. 
-Matt