The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously assessed the risk posed to relevant industries by the introduction of tilapia lake virus (TiLV) via tilapia frozen fillets and live fingerlings. This work was completed in November 2019, and the results are available in the document entitled Rapid Risk Assessment for Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV).
A second assessment supplements previous work by evaluating the additional entry pathway of live tilapia imported from Canada to terminal live markets in the United States for human consumption.
The agency estimates the likelihood TiLV will enter the United States via market-sized tilapia imported from Canada destined for terminal live markets is estimated to be low with a moderate degree of uncertainty. The likelihood that live market-sized tilapia carrying TiLV imported from Canada for sale in terminal live markets will cause infection in farm-raised tilapia is negligible, with a moderate degree of uncertainty. The overall risk that live tilapia imported from Canada and destined for sale in terminal markets will present an exposure pathway for U.S. tilapia aquaculture is estimated to be negligible.
As described in previous assessments, the consequences of TiLV if introduced to U.S. industries could be high, depending upon the magnitude of spread before detection and the time needed to respond to the outbreak. Estimated trade losses may be as high as $15,974,671.
The second risk assessment can be read or downloaded here.
Currently a Federal Order requires that imported shipments of all live fish, fertilized eggs and gametes from TiLV-susceptible species must have a USDA import permit, official health certificate and veterinary inspection.
The TiLV–susceptible species are:
- Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
- commercial hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus)
- red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and
- wild tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus)
The Federal order may be viewed here. For more information regarding the Federal Order, please contact Dr. Alicia Marston, Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, at 301-851-3361 or Alicia.R.Marston@usda.gov.
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