Most common fish viral diseases

- Treatment Using Antiviral drugs

Are there antiviral drugs actually approved for fish or aquatic animals?

United States: No antiviral drug is currently approved for food fish.

European Union: No Direct viral inhibitors approved

 World Organization for Animal Health: No list of approved antiviral therapeutics

Reasons causing Limitation of using antiviral in aquaculture include:

·  Viruses caused rapid onset of disease and kill fish fast. Drugs are given to fish incorporated in diet so they take several days to reach desirable level in tissue.

·  Fish are poikilothermic and drug metabolism depends on water temp, so dosing unreliable.

·  Experimental trials resulted in accumulation of antivirals in fish flesh.

·  Viruses’ mutation and drugs not effective in open pond.

·  Limitation of the drug delivery as injection of fish is not practical as well as bath treatments.