Tilapia Lake Virus disease (TiLVD)

- Summary

The causative agent of the disease is recently identified as Tilapia tilapine virus, which sometimes referred to as tilapia lake virus, is the only species belonging to the Tilapine virus genus associated with summer mortality syndrome of tilapia. There have been instances of co-infection involving multiple infections caused by bacteria, particularly with Aeromonas spp. The virus can infect any species of tilapia, whether wild or cultured. Any life stage of tilapia is vulnerable to the virus, and its mortality can range from 10 to 90%. Infected fish may display non pathgnomonic signs and lesions. The effective diagnostic approaches comprise the culture on specific cell lines, examination of pathological changes, and observation of virus particles using electron microscopy. A highly accurate PCR technique utilizes the semi-nested RT-PCR for detection.  A trial for the development of treatment and vaccination still in progress.