Fish Health - Koi Herpes Virus (KHV or CY-HV1)

Information on Hazorea Aquatics' Koi Breeding Project

The Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) has been active in Koi and carp fish farms in Israel since 1998. It is believed the disease was imported to Israel in broodstock and equipment that came from a defunct Koi breeding farm in the UK that was infected by KHV in 1996. KHV is suspected to have existed before 1998 in East Europe, the US and Japan, and since then in Koi facilities around the world. In general Israeli farms and authorities have co-operated with health authorities world wide in an effort to contain the spread of the virus as well as to share any and all information regarding the virus and possible methods of control or treatment. Paradoxically, it has been this openness and willingness to share information (as opposed to farms in some other countries that have tried to conceal virus infections), that has fuelled rumours that the virus started in Israel, or that Israeli farms are responsible for it's propagation. The Hazorea farm in Israel was infected by KHV in April 2001, and the last instance of KHV at Hazorea was recorded in June 2001.
After extensive research and experimentation, some farms in Israel (but not Hazorea) have developed a method for "immunization" of Koi. The method is based on infecting the Koi with an attenuated virus "vaccine" in a controlled environment. There is no documented evidence to date that fish that have been "immunized" in this way have demonstrated symptoms of KHV again or that they are carriers of the virus. However, the developers of the vaccine are uncertain regarding it's long-term effects.

Many professional and ministry officials believe that it is still uncertain if the live attenuated virus will remain non-pathogenic in "immunized" fish for long periods of time. Also, and more importantly the spread of fish vaccinated or "immunized" with attenuated virus might introduce large numbers of virus carriers that will seriously hamper future efforts to monitor or eradicate the disease. It should also be noted that since it's outbreak and spread, there is a growing certainty amongst researchers and veterinarians that other forms of KHV already exist, exhibiting slightly different symptoms and pathology. This may mean that the original strain of virus has mutated and that any so-called immunization process or tested vaccine may prove in future to be ineffective with regards to new and developing strains of the virus.

Following the KHV outbreak in 2001, Hazorea Aquatics made a strategic decision not to continue working "with" the virus but to raise virus free Koi. Following trials at a pilot project and a study of a similar site in Europe, Hazorea decided to invest in a new, entirely isolated, indoor, bio-secure intensive system that could produce KHV free Koi throughout the year in large quantities. The system consists of 2 main sub-systems:

The first is for the production of fry from specially chosen and prepared broodstock. Periodic batches of eggs are artificially spawned, and the fry are grown to a size that enables their transfer to growing tanks located in the second system. The second sub-system is situated in a specially constructed green house which has been designed to enable high density stocking of the tanks where the Koi are grown to the size required for marketing. The whole system is completely isolated from the rest of the fish hatchery and the outdoor ponds. Strict measures of disinfection and sterilization are enforced regarding personnel, instrumentation and tools in order to minimize the possibility of external sources of disease entering the system.
The system enables Hazorea to breed large quantities of disease-free Koi all year round, while minimizing the risk of contamination. The system is not sterile, meaning that the Koi are still susceptible to various parasites and bacteria that usually exist in some quantity in all water. Although the Hazorea bio-secure facility is inaccessible to animals and/or birds it should also be noted that no system can be infallible or hermetically sealed off from all outside influence. However, since all the fish in the system are always completely visible and in a controlled environment (as opposed to the fish in outside ponds), staff can respond immediately to any problem and treat it effectively. Moreover since KHV cannot be detected (without testing in laboratory conditions) in fish kept at water temperatures below 17 degrees C, the water temperature in the bio-secure system is always at the level where KHV is most active, (between 23 and 26 degrees C). The preparation and packing of fish for shipment takes place in the Bio-secure facility as well. The end result is that all the Koi from Hazorea were in a Bio-secure, enclosed quarantined environment kept at KHV sensitive temperatures - from egg to box. This enables Hazorea to provide customers with a 99.9% guarantee that the Koi supplied are virus free.

Hazorea has invested significantly in research and experimentation regarding the various factors that influence the successful growth and development of healthy, beautiful Koi in an enclosed environment. The process is on-going, and the improvement is continuous, and the feed-back from our customers, some of whom are very particular and knowledgeable, is very positive. In addition to their healthiness, body shape and colour, customers find that Hazorea Bio-secure Koi are generally more used to handling, less prone to stress, and freer of parasites.

Hazorea believes that researchers and scientists around the world are just beginning to understand the disease we call KHV and that no one can predict the long term effects of the various procedures, treatments and/or vaccines that are being used today in Koi production. However, two things are absolutely clear: First, that KHV has spread to all Koi producing countries, as well as to all destination markets. Second, that KHV is here to stay. Nobody can be sure that the existing KHV has not already, or will not in future produce mutant strains that are deadlier and/or that do not react in the same way to immunization or vaccination. Hazorea believes that the most effective way to successfully combat the disease, is to go "back to basics". Breeders, farms, distributors and retailers need to take steps to isolate and quarantine their Koi so that the disease can be contained and each link in the distribution chain can be sure that it is receiving disease free Koi. Hazorea Aquatics provides its customers with a year round bio-secure quarantine and intends to continue producing healthy, virus free fish which will not be a source of possible contamination to environments or customers' facilities.
Koi businesses and keepers around the world have been affected by KHV. In fact, no facility or pond owner anywhere, can be completely sure that he will not be the next to be infected - unless steps are taken to insure that the Koi are supplied from a virus free source. Hazorea Aquatics is confident that it's bio secure system produces stronger, healthier, disease free Koi, thus contributing to customers' security and peace of mind.

Note: The above is not intended to be a scientific assessment or in-depth description of the Bio-secure Koi facility at Hazorea. The observations included are based upon the facts as we perceive them as well as a factual description of the process.

Danny Benjamin
Hazorea Aquatics

----- Original Message -----
From: vickie Morris
To: Fish Help-line
Subject: Fish Helpline

Enquiry : United States in now infected-KHV. We are trying to do
something about the hatchery - they have carriers. I know of one person that lost 80 KOI - and I am now losing mine!! They are between 23"-26" long!! I have lost 4. I have 15 left...at this time..but they are dying

----- Original Message -----
From: Fish Help-line
To: vickie Morris
Subject: RE: Fish Helpline

Hi Vickie send me more details are you losing your own fish what are symptoms. Yes u.s.a have k.h.v bad now we have had explosion in England this year tell me about your hatchery k.h.v seems to have two forms one where fish are introduced to none infected stock they all die fast or when stock is infected but not had temperature to release virus (English type) these all die but slowly in ones and twos regards Lawrence

----- Original Message -----
From: inkypoo
To: Fish Help-line
Subject: Re: Fish Helpline - vickie morris/ohio, USA

I am exhausted - up till 1:00AM last nite - trying helplessly to save our fish - and its now 5:30 AM. Cant sleep. Here are two heartbreaking emails from me and another person that lost 70 KOI: I am sending one of my dead koi to a specialist. I purchased the four infected carriers on August 5th-as of yesterday - MY fish are infected and dying. The pond place that we went for medicene took one look at the one we brought in - and told us of our problem. NOTHING CAN BE DONE. They are japenese koi. The weather here has been between 75-95 degrees within the last two weeks, Also - here is the specialist I am sending a dead fish to: Dr. Sandra Yosha, dvm4fish@aol.com

Here are two heartbreaking emails from me and another person that lost 70 KOI - emailing back to each other :

Bryon,

I am at this time DEVASTATED! We purchased 4 small Koi at Fenders on August 5th. We have a lovely waterfall pond that has approx 15 LARGE Koi in them-about 22"-26" long. VERY healthy - or should I say - WAS very healthy. We have fed the fish and cleaned the filters every day for the past 4 years
- before that we had the Koi in a smaller pond, when we lived at a different location-but brought them all with us. They are so BEAUTIFUL. White ones, orange ones, orange and white, black and gold.

We went to Fenders on August 5th- since we wanted a little larger koi to place with our large ones. The small one was floating two days ago..didn't think TOO much about it. Then TODAY - one of the large ones was floating, with red looking sores on it. Another one - the biggest of the entire bunch
- is now taking its last breaths. We rushed to Hoffman's, looking for help and some medicine. Very sadly we were told there is nothing that can be done - they have KHV. We were then told there was a couple of other people that came in - and you were one of them. They gave us your email-which you state to make contact with you, if anyone else was the victim of this.

I tried to call the Wildlife, as you did, but they are closed till Monday. PLEASEEEEEEE make contact with us, concerning this terrible situation, I have [placed our phone number at the end of this email. I would have called you - but there was no phone number on your email to Bill Hoffman. I have contacted Mr. Hoffman and left our phone number - if anyone else comes in. I also contacted Mr. Fender. Mrs. Fender was quite upset when my sister first called - Mrs. Fender thought she had hung up the phone after speaking to my sister (my sister was with us, when we made the purchase - she lives in
Kidron) but she failed to, and my sister heard the conversation between Mr. & Mrs. Fender. Mrs. Fender said, "we have another call about someone losing their fish"...Mr. Fender stated he didn't have infected fish-he gets them from Arkansas. Mrs. Fender stated she was calling the place in Arkansas - so them my sister hung up, before they knew she was still on the line. Then I called back and spoke to Mr. Fender - and he was going on that none of his fish had died-and I said no, YOURS is the carrier and they are infecting other fish. He stated he was going to get a bill of health from Arkansas - and I stated that didn't help my fish...and if he wanted them back!? He stated no, he was just returning my money (which I am not cashing any check-till I know if I am going to take another course of action). BUT that doesn't help all the other fish that I am losing, does it?? We are like you, all of ours were babies when we purchased them - and we are QUITE upset about losing them. Yes, they are only fish - but they were part of our family.

I am documenting all the days, size of the fish - and taking their pictures when they die. I am also freezing one for evidence - so it can be tested. We have also tested the water today - everything with our water is normal!

Vickie Morris & Ashley Morris

2nd person:
Vickie,

Oh thank God, I was so hoping someone else would get a hold of me with regard to this situation. Contact the Better Business Bureau immediately and file a report on line. Keep bothering the Department of Natural Resources also. We lost 80 of our beloved koi and Mr Fender keeps stating nothing is wrong with his fish. We have lab reports from the University of Georgia stating that they do. I want you to contact a Dr. Vickie Vaughan also, her email address is vvaughan@uga.edu (that is 2 v's at the beginning). Her phone number is also 706-247-6274. Let her know that you purchased fish from Fender's Fish hatchery also like Bryon Jones did and see if she can give you any advice. I am in the process of consulting with a lawyer in this case, and maybe we can find some others and go against Fender's. This person shouldn't even be in business. I am furious about what happened, we lost $2,000 in out of pocket costs, but our fish are valued at $6,000-$8,000 dollars since they have grown. Can you please give me your phone number that I might be able to call you and discuss this more?

Thank you

Bryon Jones

His other email to a government official:
Vickie,

Here is the Department of Natural Resources phone # 330-644-2293. Just tell them Bryon Jones had complained last week about this issue and they were going to send information to their contacts in the USDA. So you know I have been trying my hardest to make contacts. Here is the email they had sent me back and my initial email.

Byron Jones:

We have contacts to the USDA but we need more information. Where did the fish come from and when, when did they die, who did the lab work to confirm the cause of death? Please send as much detail as possible.

To whom it may concern:

I just have one question, how can KHV not be a reportable disease? If a hatchery is selling infected fish, it's negligence on their part and customers stand to lose thousands of dollars worth of property, and thousands of koi. Also, if some fluke thing would happen and one of these koi got into a state lake, it would kill most if not all carp that are in those lakes. I honestly feel that a hatchery like this here in Ohio shouldn't be able to keep selling infected fish carrying this disease. I have talked to the owner of the hatchery and he is stating now that he hasn't had any problems with his fish, and supposedly doesn't know what KHV is now. We bought fish down there on July 8th, and by July 21st we started to lose our koi, and eventually lost 70 total. If damages happen like this to every customer that purchases their koi, this could cause severe consequences here in Ohio if any of these fish were to get in public waters. I do thank you for getting back with me and forwarding my information on to the USDA. I just honestly think that this virus should be taken more seriously by gov't agencies because hobbyist like myself pay for negligence on the part of hatcheries that face no consequences to selling infected fish.

Bryon Jones

----- Original Message -----
From: Fish Help-line
To: vickie Morris
Subject: RE: Fish Helpline - vickie morris/ohio, USA

Hi yes seen many times in England now it is so devastating some collections ive had to destroy had fish you would die for. Please send me your p.m results also would you allow me to publish your emails on my site if yes please send permission with sorrow lawrence

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