Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS)

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS) is the most important viral pathogen of finfish worldwide and is listed as a reportable pathogen by many nations and international organizations. Prior to 1988, VHS was not known to occur in North America, and was thought to be limited to Europe. In 2005-2006, reports from the Great Lakes region indicated that wild fish had experienced disease or, in some cases, very large die-offs from a strain now identified as VHS type IVb. Type IVb found in the Great Lakes area is the only strain outside of Europe that has been definitely linked to freshwater fish mortalities. As of the end of May 2007, VHS has been found in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, the Saint Lawrence River and, most recently, at inland lakes in Wisconsin and Michigan. Significant mortality has been reported in muskellunge, freshwater drum, goby, burbot, yellow perch, gizzard shad, and smallmouth bass. If the virus spreads outside the Great Lakes Basin or into the private aquaculture sector, the biological and economic impacts are expected to be very large.

Below is a list of recent publications, Factsheets, and briefings related to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHS) research by USGS scientists.

Isolation of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus from Muskellunge, Esox Masquinongy (Mitchill), in Lake St Clair, Michigan, USA Reveals a New Sublineage
of the North American Genotype (Published by the Journal of Fish Diseases 2006, 29, p.611–619).

Isolation of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Virus from Mummichog, Stickleback, Striped Bass and Brown Trout in Eastern Canada (Published by the Journal of Fish Diseases 2007, 30, 213–223).

Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in Round Gobies in New York State (USA) Waters of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River (Published by the Inter-Research Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Journal, Vol. 76: 187–192, 2007).

An Integrated Research Program on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in the Great Lakes - Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)

Mortality Event in Freshwater Drum Aplodinotus Grunniens from Lake Ontario, Canada, Associated with Viral Haemorrhagic Septicemia Virus, Type IV (Published by the Inter-Research Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Journal, Vol. 76: 99–111, 2007).

Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in the Great Lakes Region - USGS Factsheet, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)

Detection of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus - USGS Factsheet, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)

What Happens When VHSv Appears in Your Neighborhood – VHSv in Michigan Case History (PPT) - Gary Whelan MI DNR Fisheries Division, August 2009

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Past, Present and Future (PPT) - James Winton, US Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)

Research on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia at the Western Fisheries Research Center - Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Briefing Paper - Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)