Experimental susceptibility of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and turbot Scophthalmus maximus to European freshwater and marine isolates of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus

A number of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) virus isolates of European marine origin were shown to be of low pathogenicity or non-pathogenic to Atlantic salmon parr by waterborne infection. A reference freshwater VHS virus isolate known to be highly pathogenic to rainbow trout was also of low pathogenicity to Atlantic salmon.

Virus was detected in some mortalities, however, demonstrating viral entry and replication. European marine VHS virus isolates do not appear to pose an imminent threat to the Atlantic salmon culture industry. Turbot were found to be refractive or of low susceptibility to marine VHS virus isolates of sprat origin and to a reference freshwater isolate, with mortalities of 0 to 13.5 %, Conversely, turbot were susceptible by varying degrees to a number of VHS virus isolates taken from herring, with mortalities ranging from 16 to 68 %.

These results emphasise the vulnerability of turbot culture to the VHS virus isolates that are enzootic to the European marine environment.