BKD outbreak detected on Dorset farm – Fishupdate.com

BKD outbreak detected on Dorset farm Published:  30 June, 2006

THE presence of Bacterial Kidney Disease (BKD) has been confirmed in a trout farm in Dorset.

Defra has issued an Order under the Diseases of Fish Act 1937, prohibiting all movements of fish to and from the infected fish farm and fishery.

The disease was found in a trout sample during a routine fish health-monitoring visit to the farm. Fish Health inspectors are currently examining the source of the outbreak and investigations are ongoing. Whilst the disease is considered serious and notifiable under EU law, it is not widespread in Great Britain and occurs only sporadically.

BKD has no implications for human health.

The Diseases of Fish (Designated Areas) (England) (No. 4) Order 2006 restricts the movement of any live fish or live eggs of fish into or out of the designated area without the prior written consent of Defra.

The designated area is Houghton Springs Fish Farm, Winterbourne Houghton, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0PD.

Further information on BKD and other serious freshwater diseases can be found on the Defra website and in its “Combating Fish Disease” publication. Defra’s sister site, http://www.efishbusiness.co.uk also provides a wealth of information on fish health matters.

To organise a fish health inspection on suspicion of an outbreak, contact the CEFAS Fish Health Inspectorate on 01305 206673/74 or by sending an email to: fish.health.inspectorate@cefas.co.uk

Fish infected with BKD may display a number of characteristics including protruding eyes, a swollen abdomen, pale anaemic gills and haemorrhaging at the base of the gills. Anyone suspicious of a possible outbreak of BKD or have noticed signs similar to these, should immediately contact the Fish Health Inspectorate at CEFAS Weymouth.

BKD can cause large numbers of mortalities in both farmed and wild salmon and trout. It was first recognised in Atlantic salmon on the River Dee, Scotland in the 1930s and in 1976 there was the first notable case of BKD in farmed rainbow trout.

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