TOOLS TO FIGHT BIVALVE VIRUSES
Researchers are developing early detection and diagnostic tools for emerging bivalve aquaculture diseases to improve emergency preparedness, rapid response and regulatory decision-making.
Carolyn S. Friedman, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
Brady Blake, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Colleen Burge, University of Baltimore
Christopher Dugan, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
James Moore, California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Kimberly Reece, The College of William and Mary
Oyster aquaculture contributes millions of dollars to the Washington State economy. But emerging, rapidly spreading diseases such as the ostreid herpesvirus (OsHV-1) call for tools that will enable regulatory agencies and industry to respond effectively to such outbreaks. Towards that, researchers are developing molecular and diagnostic tools and data for early detection of OsHV-1 and its variants. They also will conduct field and laboratory trials to identify which oyster lines grow well when exposed to the virus. And the viral genomes used in infection trials will be sequenced to better understand how such diseases develop and to select resistant oysters.