Lake Erie Center
: Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

The objectives of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) research at Dr. Carol Stepien's Great Lakes Genetics Laboratory and Dr. James Willey’s George Isaac Cancer Research Center are to merge the powers of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Molecular Genetic Technology to understand and combat a new disease outbreak in the Great Lakes region. The methodology of this ongoing investigation has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals.

The emerging viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) disease is caused by a unique new strain (IVb) of this rhabdovirus,  which caused outbreaks in Lake Erie and other Great Lakes regions during the spring seasons of 2005, 2006 and 2007, causing massive fish die-offs that threaten fisheries, economic development, tourism, and negatively affected public health perception. The virus is transmitted at spawning time and is stable and infective for days in the water; and causes deaths among several species - including yellow perch, muskellunge, and drum.  The danger of spread of VHS to aquaculture systems is potentially high, and the virus appears to spread in some baitfish.

Our project team’s overall goal is to: (1) develop key genetic tools for rapid and accurate detection of the virus in infected fish, (2) analyze fish population susceptibility and disease resistance, and (3) profile the disease dynamics through geographic and population mapping to develop an improved rapid, reliable, and accurate verification PCR-based test to detect  VHS outbreaks within hours. This test will aid in fisheries management and disease control efforts and will prove to be more efficient than current laborious and expensive cell culture methodology.

In the spring spawning seasons of 2006/2007 thousands of fish washed up on public beaches. Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), pictured above, were found along the New Jersey shoreline exhibiting external and internal hemorrhaging.

Fish infected with VHS often exhibit external hemorrhaging in the skin.   Large, red hemorraghic patches can be found on the sides and anterior portion of the head.  (image courtesy of Dr. Faisal, MSU)

Many internal organs are often congested with multiple hemorrhages as seen above. A dark spleen and pale liver are indicative of immunilogical responses. The ultimate cause of death is usually internal organ failure.