| Description |
Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) is an emerging disease of fish first described in Israel in 2014. Since then TiLV has been demonstrated throughout large areas of Asia, the Americas and Africa.
TiLV is caused by a novel Orthomyxo-like virus, now known as Tilapia tilapinevirus. While the original source of TiLV remains unknown, infected farmed and wild fish now act as the reservoir for the virus. Risk factors have been identified as transfer between different ponds and stress. Roughly 90% mortality has been seen at fingerling stage with far lower mortalities seen at later life stages. Talipia species, their hybrids, and also Osphronemus goramy have been shown to be susceptible to the disease.
Clinically TiLV causes changes to the eye ranging from lens opacity to complete lens rupture in more extreme cases. Skin erosion, splenic congestion and haemorrhage in the leptomeninges are also noted.
There is no zoonotic risk with TiLV.
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