How tough is the abalone herpesvirus?

The Victorian and Tasmanian abalone industries took a big hit recently from a viral disease. Efforts are now in place to curb a recurrence. This paper adds knowledge to the biosecurity measures that all abalone farmers, commercial abalone divers and recreational abalone fishers should put in practice, especially when moving between sites and with the recreational abalone fishing season well under way.

Aquaculture
Volume 329, Number 2 (January 2012)
	Abalone herpes virus stability in sea water and susceptibility to chemical disinfectants
	Authors:	Serge Corbeil, Lynette M. Williams, Jemma Bergfeld, Mark St.J. Crane
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Aquaculture, Volume 329, Number 2 (January 2012)
	Page Numbers:	20 – 26
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: Unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: Publisher’s Site
	Abstract:	Experimental infection models using immersion and injection challenges were developed to investigate the effects of various physicochemical treatments on the abalone herpes virus (AbHV), an emerging virus causing viral ganglioneuritis in abalone in Australia. To determine stability at different temperatures, the virus was held at 4, 15, or 25°C for 1, 5, and 12days prior to immersion challenge of naïve abalone. Mortality curves indicated that when held for 1day in sea water at 4°C and 15°C the virus remained infectious and highly pathogenic. In addition, the virus retained partial infectivity after 5days held at 4°C. Histological examination of abalone tissues following viral exposure confirmed the presence of lesions typical of abalone viral ganglioneuritis in animals showing morbidity signs. An additional experiment was performed to determine the virucidal efficacy of three disinfectants (calcium hypochlorite, Buffodineand the non-ionic surfactant Impress). The disinfectants were used at various doses and durations to treat AbHV prior to injection and immersion challenges. Results showed that Buffodineand the non-ionic surfactant Impresswere effective at inactivating the virus with no detectable adverse effects on the abalone’s health. In addition, calcium hypochlorite showed a virucidal effect when used on lower titres of virus prior to immersion challenge.
	Citation:	Serge Corbeil, Lynette M. Williams, Jemma Bergfeld, Mark St.J. Crane . Abalone herpes virus stability in sea water and susceptibility to chemical disinfectants. Aquaculture, Volume 329, Number 2 (January 2012), pp. 20-26,
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=45A2B7C79E5E35FC54D1