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Enhancing national and regional capacities to deal with Tilapia lake virus

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) is a recently described disease affecting wild and farmed tilapines. Tilapias are farmed globally and are the second most important aquaculture species in terms of volumes produced, providing a key source of affordable animal protein, income to fish farmers and fishers, and domestic and export earnings. Infection with TiLV has caused extremely variable mortalities (ranging from 0 to 90 percent ) and may pose a great threat to the tilapia sector. The virus was first recognized in Israel in 2011 and was assumed to be linked to previously unexplained outbreaks in Israel in 2009. At present, it has been reported in three continents (Asia, Africa and South America) and the number of countries where the agent has been detected is likely to increase rapidly as a result of increased awareness, surveillance and availability of diagnostic methods. While there is no public health concern for this pathogen, there is a significant risk of TiLV being translocated both inter- and intra-continentally through the movement of infected live tilapias in the absence of appropriate biosecurity measures. FAO monitors TiLV, provides technical assistance and works with FAO member governments and their constituents as well as development partners and searches for resources to support the tilapia sector and the communities dependent on it.

Language English

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    Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV)
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    2018
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    The experts who participated in the expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) risk assessment concluded that Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) represents a significant risk to most parts of the world, especially to those countries where tilapia aquaculture or fisheries is important from both food security and commercial perspective. The experts considered that the main risk pathway is the translocation of live fish (for aquaculture, direct human consumption or ornamental/aquarium fish keeping purposes. The experts are of the view that the role of trade in uncooked, chilled/frozen whole fish and fish products (such as fillets) as a pathway for disease spread when compared to live fish pathway was considered to be comparatively small. The risk of TiLV to Pacific island countries and territories and North America were generally considered less than the risk ot TiLV to Asia, Africa and South America, both in terms of lower likelihood of entry, establishment and spread, and associated consequences. The experts considered that of the sixteen potential measures presented (divided into: (1) movement restrictions, (2) surveillance, (3) basic biosecurity at farm level, and (4) emergency preparedness and response), movement restriction to be the most effective in managing the international spread of TiLV. Measures may include: the prohibition of live tilapia imports; sourcing live tilapia only from populations tested and certified TiLV-free; and quarantine and post arrival testing of imported live tilapia.
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    Project
    Strengthening Biosecurity (Policy and Farm Level) Governance to Deal with Tilapia Lake Virus - TCP/INT/3707 (Phase 1) and TCP/INT/3902 (Phase 2) 2024
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    The emergence of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) poses a significant threat to the sustainability of Nile tilapia, the second most farmed finfish species worldwide. Nile tilapia serves as a vital source of accessible animal protein, income for fish farmers and fishers, and contributes substantially to both domestic and export revenues. In 2015, the global production of tilapia, encompassing both aquaculture and capture, reached 6.4 million tonnes, valued at approximately USD 9.8 billion, with international trade amounting to USD 1.8 billion. TiLV has been verified in a number of countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. There is a strong possibility that the distribution of the virus extends further than currently acknowledged, posing a substantial threat to tilapia farming on a global scale. Although there are no public health implications associated with this pathogen, there exists a notable danger of TiLV spreading both within and between continents through the transportation of infected live tilapia, particularly in the absence of adequate biosecurity measures. The economic effects of TiLV has had significant consequences in a number of regions.  In Israel, the wild catch of tilapia, primarily the Sarotherodon galilaeus species, in the Sea of Galilee saw a substantial decline. From an average of 257 tonnes per year, catch numbers plummeted to a mere 8 tonnes per year in 2008, a decline directly attributed to TiLV-induced disease.  In Thailand, TiLV outbreaks in 2015 and 2016 resulted in fish mortality rates ranging from 20 to 90 percent. Records indicate widespread deaths among farmed Nile tilapia and red tilapia hybrids. Countries that cultivate tilapia must remain vigilant and implement suitable risk management strategies, such as improving diagnostic testing for imported stocks and unexplained tilapia mortalities, promptly reporting to biosecurity authorities, conducting active surveillance, launching public information campaigns, and establishing contingency plans. These measures are crucial for mitigating the continued spread and potential socio-economic consequences of this emerging disease. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) plays a pivotal role in preventing the further spread and negative impacts of TiLV while also facilitating communication and dissemination of risks and knowledge on effective aquaculture biosecurity.
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    Tilapia lake virus disease strategy manual 2021
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    The purpose of this manual is to inform national policymakers and other stakeholders of issues related to the development of contingency plans for responding to outbreaks of tilapia lake virus disease (TiLVD), which has caused substantial mortalities, up to 90 percent, in populations of both wild and farmed tilapia in Asia, the Americas, and Africa. The causative agent for this disease is tilapia lake virus (TiLV), which infects the liver, spleen, kidney, heart, gill tissues, brain, connective tissues of muscle, and reproductive organs of tilapia. Outbreaks of TiLVD not only have devastating economic effects on producers, but also can result in a variety of socio-economic impacts on surrounding communities. It would, therefore, be prudent to implement strategies for the prevention of TiLVD and to develop contingency plans to eradicate, contain, and mitigate the impacts of the disease when outbreaks occur. This manual provides information on: 1) the nature of TiLVD; 2) diagnosis; 3) prevention and control; 4) epidemiology; 5) principles of eradication, containment and mitigation; and 6) policy development issues.
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