frequently asked questions 

The health of the koi we ship is paramount to us and to the Niigta breeders. Whether we like it or not livestock farming goes along sometimes with diseases. Where it all starts and ends as well: Buy and ship only healthy koi of trusted sources.

We will no dive deep into the "common diseases" as they are in general quite easy to be diagnosed and treated.However we feel it as our obligation to inform you about two specific diseases, which have been lately arisen a lot of commotion in the industry: SVC  & KHV. 

What is Spring Viremia of Carp?

Spring viremia of carp (SVC) is a viral disease that can cause significant mortality of common carp (Cyprinus carpio).Historically, the disease has been a problem in Europe, the Middle East, and Russia. Recently, SVC has been reported in koi in the United States  and Japan ? for the first time. Spring viremia of carp is caused by Rhabdovirus carpio, a bullet-shaped RNA virus. The disease has been reported in all kinds of (common) carp ((Cyprinus carpio). 

What are the Signs of SVC?  

Clinical signs of SVC are often non-specific and may include darkening of the skin, exophthalmia (pop-eye), ascites (dropsy), pale gills, hemorrhages in the gills, skin, and eye, and a protruding vent with a thick mucous (white to yellowish) fecal cast.

Concurrent infection with bacteria, particularly Aeromonas (A. salmonicida or A. hydrophila), may confuse the diagnosis, as fish will show signs of systemic infection.

What is Koi Herpes Virus? 

Koi Herpes Virus is a virus infecting Koi which selectively penetrates and annihilates the epidermal cells of the koi, stripping the gills and skin and leaving them extremely vulnerable to secondary infection by Aeromonas and other fish bacterial pathogens. Most report almost total loss of their fish within 10-14 days, but it doesn't have to be that way.  

What are the Signs of Koi Herpes Virus? 

Koi herpes virus doesn't always have to appear as mass-mortality (death) and wide scale infection, under the right circumstances, KHV outbreaks can look like routine Aeromonas ulcer cases with 10-20% morbidity and are sometimes the diagnose is confused as such.

There are direct and indirect tests to demonstrate viral infections. Direct tests detect the presence of the virus or of a portion of a virus. Growing the virus in cell culture or a PCR test to a portion of the viral DNA is an example of direct test. and most  commonly used. Generally these are most useful when the virus is present in large numbers such as in a KHV disease outbreak. Indirect tests measure antibodies to a particular virus. They are most useful in detecting previous infection or the stage of infection. 

Our answers:

KHV is a serious problem and needs constantly surveillance at all stages. We have been setting up a database up to date with latest test results of KHV and SVC of all individual breeders. This database is accessible trough our log in modus.

We strongly believe in control as much as possible at this end in close cooperation with the Shinkokai before shipping.

The guidelines

"a close cooperation between prefectural government of Niigata and the breeders"

Niigata Prefectural Inland Water Fisheries Experiment Station is a research institute under the control of the Niigata Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department.

The Experiment Station is divided into the Management Department, Aquafarming Department, Resources Department, and Pathology Environment Department.

Niigata prefecture has always dealt with KHV in a very strict manner : export guidelines were established. The guidelines state that all Koi must be inspected for KHV and SVC twice a year, so Niigata breeders are checked regularly. Each inspection costs more than 100,000 yen ; at the moment the prefecture offers subsidies for the inspection of SVC only.

The guidelines were decided by the Experiment Station and breeders and belong to the prefecture and are geared towards exporting. The breeders who receive KHV and SVC inspection twice a year are registered in a list of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Departments Fisheries Safety Bureau. When those registrants wish to export, the Experiment Station issues a Non-disease Certification after they pass a clinical check-up. Although this may seem limited, the tests performed are based on scientific appropriate way of sampling and numbers of fish. 

The health certificates and other documents that accompany our shipments will state "KHV & SVC specific amplification was not detected when genomic DNA from specimens were used as template".  

In our download section you can always download the latest laboratory results available of each breeder we work with. 

However : No KHV quarantine or testing procedure offers 100% assurance a koi (previously) infected with KHV will be detected. 

We think there's a responsibility at your end as well: 

Only a proper sampled and conducted test of the fish before and after quarantine period in your facility can tell you at least something, uncontrolled sampled fish accompanying consolidated shipments and tested** elsewhere, claiming to be representative for the fish you bought, are in our opinion at least deceiving and of lesser use. 

Only a thorough and lengthy quarantine can really exclude the virus and can greatly reduce the odds of infecting other koi.  

**Important note:

Please note that we are not disputing here the test itself as not being proper conducted, we merely dispute the way the samples are often collected.