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Rafael Lopes Faria. Photo: IP-Apta
Brazilian Fisheries Institute Advances Fight Against Lethal Tilapia Virus
BRAZIL
Wednesday, July 09, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
New research sheds light on the ISKNV virus, identifying key physiological responses in tilapia and suggesting a low risk of fecal transmission, offering crucial insights for aquaculture health management.
SÃO PAULO – The Fisheries Institute (IP-Apta), part of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, highlighted groundbreaking research by master's student Rafael Lopes Faria. His study, conducted within the Postgraduate Program in Aquaculture and Fisheries (PPGIP), represents a significant leap forward in understanding the ISKNV virus, a pathogen causing infectious necrosis of the spleen and kidney—one of the most pressing health challenges facing global fish farming.
Faria's research, titled "Amino acid profile and fecal transmission potential of Megalocytivirus pagrus 1 (ISKNV subtype) in two tilapia species," meticulously evaluated the physiological responses of two commercially farmed tilapia species after infection with ISKNV. By analyzing their post-infection amino acid profiles, the study successfully identified metabolic differences between the species. This vital information can inform more effective health and nutritional management strategies within aquaculture production systems.
Another pivotal finding of the research involved assessing the virus's potential for fecal transmission. By investigating the presence of ISKNV in fish excreta, the study revealed very low levels of viral load in feces. This suggests a minimal probability of contamination through this route in cohabitation systems, providing crucial data for developing more robust biosecurity protocols in aquaculture.
Rafael Lopes Faria described the project as a transformative experience beyond academic achievement. "I made many friends here who helped me with many doubts and moments when I needed it. My advisor, Cláudia Maris, was a great support, helping me in a human and sensitive way," he shared. Faria also acknowledged the invaluable assistance from researchers at both IP and the Biological Institute throughout his project.
His supervisor, Cláudia Maris, a scientific researcher at IP and pro-rector of PPGIP, emphasized the broader impact of these findings: "With the help of these experiments, we have uncovered another step in understanding the behavior of this lethal and emerging virus in global fish farming."
With his dissertation defense scheduled for the second semester, Rafael Faria's work provides a solid scientific foundation that is expected to guide future studies and practical actions aimed at improving aquaculture health in Brazil.
Source: Assessoria IP-Apta
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