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Largemouth Bass Virus Still a Threat
USSFN: 4/23/03 - DNR officials in 17 states (more likely this year) have found the Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) in their waters. This isn't anything new as this has been around since 1995 when 1000 fish died in Santee Cooper Reservoir of South Carolina. While the virus has shown up in several species of fish, it received the name because it is only fatal (so far) for the largemouth species. It is possible that a large mysterious fish kill in Florida back in 1991 could have possibly been from LMBV.
Before you go and take your temperature, you can take some comfort in knowing that this virus is an iridovirus, a family of virus that only affects fish, amphibians and reptiles. The virus poses no known threat to humans who might handle or consume these fish. Additionally, this is just one of hundreds of naturally occurring viruses that affect fish, but not warm blooded animals. Genetically, it is similar to a pathogen of aquarium fish from Southeast Asia, suggesting the virus may have been imported. The water temperature seems to be a key factor in the severity of the disease. Warmer waters in the southern US seem to increase the mortality rates while northern fatalities are few.
Anglers can help prevent the spread of Largemouth Bass Virus and as well as other fish diseases and the spread of exotic species by taking the following steps:
- Do not transport live fish and stock them in another body of water. In most states, this practice is illegal without a permit.
- Remove any visible plants and animals from your boat, trailer, and other boating equipment before leaving any water body. (This step and the next also help prevent the spread of lake choking Hydrilla and tiger mussels.)
- Drain water from the motor, live well, bilge and transom wells at the ramp access before leaving any water body.
- Dispose of unwanted minnows and leeches on shore. Never release live bait into a water body, or release aquatic animals from one water body into another.
- Wash/dry your boat and other boating equipment that normally gets wet to kill exotics/pathogens that were not visible at the boat launch. Recent research has determined that the virus can live for several hours in water, confirming the importance of this practice.
~
Jim
