First Evidence of Carp Edema Virus Infection of Koi Cyprinus carpio in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Carp edema virus surveillance in the koi trade: early detection through shipping environment sampling and longitudinal monitoring of CEV outbreaks in a wholesaler facility

Carp edema virus (CEV), a member of the Poxviridae family, has been a significant pathogen in koi and common carp since its initial identification in Japan during the 1970s. CEV, the causative agent of Koi Sleepy Disease (KSD), can cause high mortality rates and has been reported in many countries and is often linked to the fish trade. The virus is typically detected through DNA analysis of gill tissues, where the highest viral loads are found. However, traditional sampling methods, such as gill sampling, are lethal, complicating routine surveillance, particularly in asymptomatic or high-value koi. This study aimed to evaluate nonlethal sampling methods for CEV surveillance in the koi trade. We analysed various shipping environment samples, such as shipping water and fish bag swabs, alongside gill swabs from anaesthetised fish and gills from naturally deceased fish. Using qPCR, we found that the sensitivity of environmental samples, particularly shipping water, was greater than that of direct fish samples. Latent class modelling estimated that the sensitivity associated with 1.5 mL shipping water samples was greater than 89%, making them a reliable alternative for early detection. All detected variants belonged to genogroup II. Some post-import outbreaks shared variants with earlier outbreaks or shipping environment samples, suggesting that the detected DNA generally reflected infectious particles rather than just free environmental DNA and indicating that CEV can go unnoticed for several months after importation. These findings highlight the utility of environmental samples for effective, non-invasive surveillance and improved biosecurity management in the koi trade.

Assessing tropism and genetic traits of carp oedema virus isolates to enhance detection strategies

Introduction

Carp oedema virus (CEV) is a relatively understudied poxvirus. It exhibits an affinity for gill and skin epithelial cells. Investigations were conducted into selected aspects of CEV biology, with a focus on determining cell and tissue tropism of CEV, acquiring gene sequences and updating CEV tests in fish tissues.

Material and Methods

A total of 238 common carp tissue samples from nine aquaculture farms were analysed. The study evaluated the efficacy of intermediate detection of CEV by real-time PCR and in situ hybridisation. The genes encoding protein P4a were sequenced, analysed and aligned in a phylogenetic tree using a molecular evolution model.

Results

In situ hybridisation revealed the necessity to validate the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science protocols for sampling for CEV detection and to use the tissues for which the virus has the highest tropism, namely the skin and kidneys, rather than solely the gills. The level of genetic variability was determined, and it was shown that CEV mutates systematically. The creation of two distinct phylogenetic clades confirms certain strains' description as Polish isolates.

Conclusion

Determining the localisation of CEV genetic material in organs and tissues is pivotal for shaping the World Organisation for Animal Health guidelines. The utility of molecular diagnostics has been demonstrated in the skin and kidney of carp, in addition to the gills, impelling their inclusion in diagnostic protocols. The clusters identified in the phylogenetic tree offer valuable insights for developing the current PCR primers. The prevalence of CEV infection in aquaculture, juxtaposed with its notably lower detection in wild fish, underscores the significance of mandatory molecular diagnostic testing for CEV in carp farming.

Transcriptome analysis and immune gene expression of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fed diets with inclusion of frass from black soldier fly larvae

The larval waste, exoskeleton shedding, and leftover feed components of the black soldier fly and its larvae make up the by-product known as frass. In this study, we subjected channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to a 10-week feeding trial to assess how different dietary amounts of frass inclusion would affect both systemic and mucosal tissue gene expression, especially in regard to growth and immune-related genes. Fish were divided in quadruplicate aquaria, and five experimental diets comprising 0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 g of frass per kilogram of feed were fed twice daily. At the end of the trial, liver, head kidney, gill, and intestine samples were collected for gene expression analyses. First, liver and intestine samples from fish fed with a no frass inclusion diet (control), low-frass (50 g/kg) inclusion diet, or a high-frass (300 g/kg) inclusion diet were subjected to Illumina RNA sequencing to determine global differential gene expression among diet groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) included the upregulation of growth-related genes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and myostatin, as well as innate immune receptors and effector molecules such as toll-like receptor 5, apolipoprotein A1, C-type lectin, and lysozyme. Based on the initial screenings of low/high frass using RNA sequencing, a more thorough evaluation of immune gene expression of all tissues sampled, and all levels of frass inclusion, was further conducted. Using targeted quantitative PCR panels for both innate and adaptive immune genes from channel catfish, differential expression of genes was identified, which included innate receptors (TLR1, TLR5, TLR9, and TLR20A), proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β type a, IL-1β type b, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNFα), chemokines (CFC3 and CFD), and hepcidin in both systemic (liver and head kidney) and mucosal (gill and intestine) tissues. Overall, frass from black soldier fly larvae inclusion in formulated diets was found to alter global gene expression and activate innate and adaptive immunity in channel catfish, which has the potential to support disease resistance in this species in addition to demonstrated growth benefits.

Fish immune responses to natural infection with carp edema virus (Koi sleepy disease): An emerging fish disease in India

Emerging pathogen, carp edema virus (CEV) causes koi sleepy disease (KSD) in Koi and common carp causing severe mortalities worldwide. In the present study, a total of 150 fish species belonging to eight different families were sampled from the ornamental fish retailers and farms, located in Karnataka, India. The OIE protocol viz., level-I, II and III diagnoses confirmed the infection of CEV in 10 koi fish. Interestingly, other fish species belonging to different fish family including cyprinidae family were negative to CEV. Further, CEV infection was confirmed by sequencing (partial 4a gene); it showed the similarity with that of CEV reported from India and Germany strains with similarity of 97.4-99.94% and belonged to genogroup IIa. TEM analysis of purified CEV, in vivo cohabitation and tissue infection experiments confirmed the CEV infection. In addition, viral load was significantly higher (10^6-7 copies) in koi collected from Dakshina Kannada than of Bengaluru (10^3-4 copies). To understand the host-pathogen interaction, different organs such as gill, kidney, liver and spleen from naturally (CEV) infected koi were used to study the immune gene responses by using eight innate and one adaptive immune response. Results indicated that TNF-α, RohTNF-α, iNOS, IFN-γ and IL-10, and catalyze β-2M of MHC class I pathway genes were upregulated in koi. Higher expression of immune genes during the CEV infection may have inhibited viral replication and mount an antigenic adaptive response. Similar to other viral infections, interferon-γ play an important role during poxvirus infections. Quantification of immune genes in infected fish will provide insights into the host responses and provide valuable information to devise intervention strategies to prevent and control disease due to CEV.

Genetic diversity of the carp oedema virus in France

The koi sleepy disease of carp caused by the carp oedema virus (CEV) was observed on farms and in ponds in France since the 2010s. Samples of CEV collected in France over a period of eight years were characterized at the molecular level by sequencing the partial p4a gene. All the sequences, except one, fell into two well-defined genogroups. Sequences obtained from CEV detected in common carp generally clustered in genogroup I and sequences from CEV detected in the koi were assigned to genogroup II. A particular sample was different to the others and represented a putative new genogroup possibly arose from a recombination event between a genogroup II sequence and one from an unknown genogroup. Compared with sequences from CEV of other countries, most of the French sequences exhibited high degree of DNA identities with those published previously, indicating identical sources of viruses. The sequence diversity suggests multiple introductions of the viruses in France. Among the French sequences, two genogroup-specific molecular markers were identified. One was an insertion/deletion identified within a microsatellite and other was a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms. CEV seems to generate genetic diversity via diverse mechanisms: substitutions, indels and recombination events.

It is everywhere-A survey on the presence of carp edema virus in carp populations in Germany

Carp edema virus (CEV) is the causative agent of koi sleepy disease (KSD), a serious gill disease affecting common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and its ornamental variety, koi. After recent detections of the virus in various countries around the world, KSD has emerged as a new global disease in carp. However, the prevalence of the infection in carp populations in a given geographical region has not been studied thoroughly. The present communication reports an investigation into the presence of CEV in carp and koi populations in Germany. For this purpose, gill samples collected from carp and koi populations suffering from gill diseases or collected for a routine examination of their health status were tested for the presence of CEV by PCR. In total, 651 fish samples from 401 carp or koi cases were examined in 2015 and 2016, additional 118 samples from previous studies were included in the examination. CEV was detected in archive samples from carp dating back to 2007, and in koi samples dating back to 2009. From 2015 to 2016, CEV was detected in 69% of cases from carp populations examined from the main carp-producing areas in Germany, and in 41% of the examined cases from koi populations from all over Germany. Clinical KSD occurred mainly from April to June in carp populations at water temperatures ranging from 8 to 12°C and in koi populations at water temperatures ranging from 18 to 22°C. Most fish from clinically affected carp or koi populations harboured high virus loads of above 10,000 copies of CEV-specific DNA per 250 ng DNA, while gills from fish of other fish species from the ponds, including goldfish, grass carp and European perch were found CEV negative or harboured a low virus load. A phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of multiple CEV variants from genogroup I in carp and genogroup II in koi populations in Germany. Genetically identical genogroup I isolates were detected in carp from different geographical locations in Germany and in other European carp populations. Some German genogroup II variants were identical to variants previously recorded from koi in Asian and other European countries. The data presented here show that CEV is highly prevalent in German common carp and koi populations and implies the spreading of this virus by intense trading of common carp and koi without necessary risk mitigating measures. As infections with this virus may induce serious disease, CEV diagnostic should be included in health surveillance and disease monitoring programmes.

Carp edema virus and immune response in carp (Cyprinus carpio): Current knowledge

The importance of world aquaculture production grows annually together with the increasing need to feed the global human population. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is one of the most important freshwater fish in global aquaculture. Unfortunately, carp production is affected by numerous diseases of which viral diseases are the most serious. Koi herpesvirus disease (KHVD), spring viraemia of carp (SVC), and during the last decades also koi sleepy disease (KSD) are currently the most harmful viral diseases of common carp. This review summarizes current knowledge about carp edema virus (CEV), aetiological agent causing KSD, and about the disease itself. Furthermore, the article is focused on summarizing the available information about the antiviral immune response of common carp, like production of class I interferons (IFNs), activation of cytotoxic cells, and production of antibodies by B cells focusing on anti-CEV immunity.