Virus now killing perch

[GLF]

The same virus that killed tens of thousands of sheepshead, or freshwater drum, in western Lake Erie this spring also is responsible for some of the dieoff of up to several thousand yellow perch in central Lake Erie in the last two weeks, the Ohio Division of Wildlife says.

The virus is known as viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. It is the same virus known to have killed sheepshead in Lake Ontario's Bay of Quinte in 2005.

"It appears this virus is not specific to drum," stated Jeff Tyson, Lake Erie fish management and research supervisor for the division. He added that at least one muskellunge from Lake St. Clair succumbed to VHS last year.

Presence of VHS in the dead perch was confirmed by both the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Laboratory at LaCrosse, Wis., and an independent lab in Seattle, Tyson said.

As a result state fish biologists netted samples of a variety of fish species last week and have sent them for testing to determine how far the disease may extend.

"The central basin [perch] dieoff hasn't been on a par with the sheepshead dieoff in the western basin in May," Tyson said. He stressed again, as authorities have previously, that VHS poses no harm to human health and any fish caught that acts healthy is healthy.

In its late stages a VHS-infected fish will have sides that appear sore or bloody and could be bleeding from the gills.

Tyson also noted that with a system as large as Lake Erie, there is little that can be done about the virus in any case. "There is no treatment or anything."

He added that some of the perch also may have died from post-spawn stress, which is normal, and some from commercial trapnetting "bycatch" of undersized fish. But it is impossible to assess which cause was responsible for how much of the kill.

Commercial fishermen, he added, "cooperated with us and gave us some samples."

[Mike]

Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council

Infection appears to be waning; poses no threat to human health

COLUMBUS, OH - A viral infection caused an extensive die off of yellow perch and freshwater drum (sheephead) in Lake Erie this spring, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) was detected for the first time in Lake Erie earlier this year. At this point, the infection appears to be waning and few fish have died in recent weeks. VHS poses no threat to human health.

As the temperature of Lake Erie rises, the risk of fish becoming infected from VHS drops considerably,†said Jeff Tyson, fisheries biology supervisor with the division. “The optimal temperature for VHS to affect fish is 40 to 60 degrees

Fahrenheit. Lake Erie water temperature is now in the mid 60-degree range and getting warmer.â€

VHS is a relatively common virus in Europe and Japan where it has affected fresh and saltwater fishes, primarily salmon species in aquaculture facilities. Prior to 2005, VHS was known mostly in saltwater and estuarine systems along the east and west coasts of North America. The virus was first detected in the Great Lakes region (Lake Ontario) in 2005.

Significant numbers of sheephead were found dead in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, beginning in mid April. Later, a less-severe die off of yellow perch was detected in the Central Basin. Testing conducted by the division on both fish species revealed VHS infection. A VHS outbreak also has been identified as causing a die off of round goby and muskellunge in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway this year.