Exotics - Block 2 flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from fish pathogens, water quality, biosecurity, and avian anatomy sections of the notes.

Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)

A rhabdovirus disease of carp/cyprinids causing infectious swim bladder inflammation; high mortality in young fish; waterborne; notifiable; tissue destruction (kidney, spleen, liver); common in 10–17°C water.

Rhabdovirus

Virus family to which SVCV belongs; negative-sense RNA viruses; includes fish pathogens such as SVCV and human rabies virus.

Infectious Swim Bladder Inflammation

Disease also known as aerocystitis; associated with Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) in carp; inflammation of swim bladder due to viral infection.

Koi Herpesvirus (CyHV-3)

Highly contagious carp disease; mortality 80–100% typically within 24–48 hours; gill mottling; controlled by temperature reduction; vaccines in development.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV)

Notifiable virus affecting many fish species; widespread in marine and freshwater fish; economically important in certain aquaculture species; multiple genotypes.

Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV)

Salmonid-focused virus with a relatively narrow host range; endemic to western North America; spread via movements of infected fish.

Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus (ISAV)

Notifiable fish virus with North American and European genotypes; causes ISAV in salmon; HPR0 (apathogenic) vs HPR-del (pathogenic) variants.

Salmon Gill Pox Virus (SGPV)

Emerging salmonid viral disease; not notifiable; common in farmed fish; mortalities up to 70%; stress-related outbreaks (handling, suboptimal conditions).

Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV)

Orthomyxovirus causing tilapia disease; discovered 2009; mortality 10–90% in farmed and wild tilapia; reported in 12 countries; tilapia is the world’s second-most-farmed fish.

Salmonid Alpha Virus (SAV)

Virus causing pancreas disease (PD) in salmonids.

Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV)

Virus causing pancreatic necrosis in young salmonids; significant disease in hatcheries and sea farms.

Piscine Myocarditis Virus (PMCV)

Virus associated with Cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) in Atlantic salmon.

Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV)

Virus linked to Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation (HSMI) in salmon; not always notifiable; important in Atlantic salmon health.

Salmon Gill Pox Virus (SGPV)

Common in farmed salmon; causes gill disease; outbreaks linked to stress; notifiable status varies by region.

Viral Erythrocytic Necrosis (VEN)/Piscine Erythrocytic Necrosis (PEN)

Virus causing destruction of red blood cells; leads to anemia; affects cool-water fish; multiple marine and anadromous species.

Lymphocystis

Common viral disease with cauliflower-like white growths on fins/skin; large nuclear changes visible histologically; no cure; stress-related.

Gas Bubble Disease (Gas Supersaturation)

Condition from supersaturation of dissolved gases in water; bubbles form in tissues/blood; can drive stress and outbreaks in aquaculture.

Gas Bubble Disease and SGPV link

Supersaturation stress can influence Salmon Gill Poxvirus (SGPV) outbreaks.

Fish Anesthesia (In-Water Delivery)

Anesthesia typically delivered in water (inhalation through gills); injectable anesthetics are less common in fish.

Denitrification and Nitrate Management

Nitrate removal via water changes, denitrification filters, plant uptake; important to prevent FAN/NH3 toxicity in recirculating systems.

Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN)

Sum of ammonium (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3) in water; target often <= 0.5 mg/L in many systems.

Free Ammonia Nitrogen (FAN)

Unionized ammonia (NH3) that is more toxic to fish; commonly targeted to <= 0.1 mg/L.

Alkalinity (KH)

Buffering capacity of water, measured as mg/L CaCO3; consumed during nitrification; stabilizes pH.

Hardness (GH)

Concentration of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) in mg/L as CaCO3; important for skeletal development and osmoregulation.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Targets

Minimum DO around 5 mg/L; optimum range ~5–12 mg/L for many aquaculture species.

pH and Water Chemistry Targets (TAN/FAN references)

pH affects ammonia toxicity; maintain species-appropriate pH with stable KH and GH to support nitrifiers.

Measurement Tools: Refractometer and TDS

Refractometer measures salinity; multiparameter probes measure salinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) simultaneously.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Cyanobacteria and phytoplankton blooms that produce toxins and deplete DO; remediation often involves nutrient control.

Copper Toxicity

Copper used for parasite control but can be toxic to crustaceans/corals; removal strategies include ion exchange, EDTA chelation.

Zinc Toxicity

Zn toxicity is pH- and temperature-dependent; higher risk at low pH; water chemistry influences toxicity.

Comprehensive Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS)

US framework to improve health of farmed aquatic animals; supports safe trade and health verification.

National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP)

APHIS program setting accreditation standards for veterinarians to issue health certificates and certificates of health for aquatic species.

Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)

Formal professional relationship required for issuing health certificates and treatment decisions in aquaculture.

Quarantine (Aquaculture)

Isolated facility for new stock; risk analysis-driven; typically 3–6 weeks; includes effluent treatment and biosecurity measures.

Environmental DNA (eDNA)

DNA traces in the environment used to detect presence of pathogens or species without capturing organisms.

Marek’s Disease (sciatic nerve enlargement)

Viral disease in poultry causing enlargement of the sciatic nerve; important recognition sign in Marek’s disease.

Cloaca

Common exit for digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts in birds; no urinary bladder; separate examinations can assess health.

Crop

Esophageal outpocket used for temporary food storage in birds; emptying time and gavage feeding are important in care.

Proventriculus

Enzymatic stomach of birds where digestive enzymes are secreted; precedes the gizzard.

Ventriculus (Gizzard)

Grinding stomach with koilin layer; mechanically breaks down food; koilin is continuously renewed.

Koilin Layer

A protective acellular cuticle lining the gizzard that wears away and is replaced.

Choana

Natural cleft between the mouth and nasal cavity; contains papillae to direct food and prevent respiratory entry.

Syrinx

Avian vocal organ located at the bifurcation of the bronchi; beneath the keel; key site for voice production.

Epiglottis Absence (Birds)

Birds lack a mammalian epiglottis; facilitates endotracheal intubation but increases risk of aspiration.

Nine Air Sacs in Birds

Cervicocephalic, clavicular, cranial/caudal thoracic, and abdominal air sacs; act as bellows to move air without gas exchange.

Pneumatization

Extension of air sacs into medullary cavities of bones to reduce skeletal weight.

Pecten Oculi

comb-like, vascular structure projecting from retina to nourish the avascular retina and may aid movement detection.

Scleral Ossicles

Ring of bones around the cornea that provides structural support to the eyeball.

Two-Cycle Avian Respiration

Birds require two complete inhalation–exhalation cycles to move a single air volume through the system.