Infectious salmon anaemia (ISAV):
An orthomyxovirus causing the disease termed infectious salmon anaemia affecting sea-farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). ISAV is an enveloped virus consisting of 8 single-stranded RNA segments.
Characterised by severe anaemia, haemorrhaging and necrosis. Clinical signs include pale gills, exophthamia, distended abdomen and sometimes haemorrhages.
The diagnostic methods include:
- Virus Isolation
- Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT)
- Immunohistochemistry (ISA IHC)
- Molecular and sequencing
Cytopathic effect (CPE) of ISAV
and a Haemadsorption test
confirming the presence of ISAV virus
on TO cell lines
ISA IHC positive result in heart tissue
an IFAT positive result for ISAV