Disease Ecology of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in an Inland Michigan Lake

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is an infectious agent that causes viral hemorrhagic septicemia in fish and is responsible for multiple fish die-offs in the Great Lakes region. These events can be aesthetically and economically devastating for Great Lakes and inland fisheries. It is suspected that the virus can be transported through the movement of boats, bait, and other fishing gear from one body of water to another, but transmission and where the virus resides in a body of water during times of dormancy have yet to be extensively studied in the natural ecosystem. Budd Lake is one of only 2 inland lakes in Michigan that has ever tested positive for this virus. There are no apparent inlets or outlets, so this system is considered closed. Since the detection of the virus in 2007, it had tested negative until this study began. Through the objectives of this study, it was to be determined if the virus is still residing in the system, where it could be residing in times of dormancy, and if naïve fish would succumb to the virus after being stocked. This will give managers a good idea of the risk involved in stocking naïve or susceptible species into a lake that relies on these operations to satisfy the needs of the stakeholders. Positive results indicate that VHS is indeed still a part of this ecosystem. What is next for Budd Lake?