Infectious salmon anaemia

Signs of disease

Important: animals with disease may show one or more of the signs below, but disease may still be present in the absence of any signs.

Disease signs at the farm level

• mortality of up to 90 per cent

Disease signs at the tank and pond level

• lethargy
• fish congregate in the upper water levels
• fish gasp at the surface
• inappetence

Clinical signs of disease in an infected animal

• pale gills
• ascites (swollen abdomen from accumulated fluid)
• bleeding eyes and fin rot are also common
• ecchymotic (bruise-like) skin haemorrhages may be present

Gross signs of disease in an infected animal

• liver and spleen are swollen and dark (early sign)
• pinpoint haemorrhages in internal fat
• blood in intestines
• haemorrhaging of the liver
• pale heart

Disease agent

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus is consistent with those of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses.

Host range

The only species seen to show clinical signs of ISA is the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Species known to be naturally asymptomatic carriers:

Species shown experimentally to be asymptomatic carriers include:

• Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus)
• salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)—a copepod

* naturally susceptible (other species have been shown to be experimentally susceptible)

Presence in Australia

EXOTIC—not present in Australia.

Epidemiology

• ISA occurs in spring and early summer, at water temperatures from 3^oC to above 15^oC.
• Mortality varies up to 90 per cent, and may occur over a prolonged period, not necessarily as acute outbreaks.
• Spread of the disease has occurred with the movement of live juvenile salmonids from one fish farm to another and with the discharge of organic waste from fish processing plants into the marine environment.
• Natural outbreaks seem to occur only in salmonids exposed to seawater.
• ISA has been the subject of extensive eradication campaigns in several countries, such as Scotland, which has since declared itself free from the disease.
• It appears that stress caused by treatment against salmon lice, cestodes or infectious diseases may predispose salmon to outbreaks of ISA two to three weeks later.

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnostic table and the list of similar diseases appearing at the bottom of each disease page refer only to the diseases covered by this field guide. Gross signs observed might well be representative of a wider range of diseases not included here. Therefore, these diagnostic aids should not be read as a guide to a definitive diagnosis, but rather as a tool to help identify the listed diseases that most closely account for the gross signs.

Similar diseases

Infectious pancreatic necrosis, viral haemorrhagic septicaemia, infectious haematopoietic necrosis

Further images

Sample collection

Because of uncertainty in differentiating diseases using only gross signs, and because some aquatic animal disease agents might pose a risk to humans, you should not try to collect samples unless you have been trained. Instead, you should phone your state or territory hotline number and report your observations. If samples have to be collected, the agency taking the call will advise you on what you need to do. Local or district fisheries/veterinary authorities could advise you on sampling.

Emergency disease hotline

For your state or territory emergency disease hotline number, see Whom to contact if you suspect a disease.

Further reading

The currently accepted procedures for a conclusive diagnosis of ISA are summarised at www.oie.int/eng/normes/fmanual/A_00026.htm