Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
DAO is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of disease phenomena in aquatic organisms.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02766
copiedFirst outbreak of sleeping disease in Switzerland: disease signs and virus characterization
- Heike Schmidt-Posthaus
- Nicolas Diserens
- Monika Jankowska Hjortaas
- Ralph Knüsel
- Regula Hirschi
- Torunn Taksdal
ABSTRACT: Sleeping disease is a contagious disease mainly of freshwater farmed rainbow trout, caused by salmonid alphavirus (SAV) Subtype 2. Here we describe the first case in Switzerland. Pathological changes ranged from acute pancreas necrosis to more chronic lesions with complete loss of exocrine pancreas and simultaneous degenerative, inflammatory and regenerative heart and muscle lesions. The partial sequencing of SAV E2 and nsp3 genes placed the Swiss SAV variant within the Subtype 2 clustering together with freshwater isolates from UK and continental Europe. Although mortality stayed low, growth rates were significantly reduced, making the disease economically relevant.
KEYWORDS
Heike Schmidt-Posthaus (Corresponding Author)
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Disease and Pathobiology, University of Berne, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box 8466, 3001 Berne, Switzerland
Nicolas Diserens (Co-author)
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Disease and Pathobiology, University of Berne, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box 8466, 3001 Berne, Switzerland
Monika Jankowska Hjortaas (Co-author)
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, PO Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway
Ralph Knüsel (Co-author)
- fishdoc GmbH, Schaubhus, 6026 Rain, Switzerland
Regula Hirschi (Co-author)
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Disease and Pathobiology, University of Berne, Laenggassstrasse 122, PO Box 8466, 3001 Berne, Switzerland
Torunn Taksdal (Co-author)
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ullevålsveien 68, PO Box 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway