Koi Herpes Virus

In this section you can find out more about Koi Herpes Virus (KHV) – one of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) current issues

KHV is a highly contagious viral disease which causes morbidity and mortality within common carp and koi carp.

Other related cyprinid species such as the common goldfish seem to be unaffected, but are potentially asymptomatic carriers.

External signs of the disease may include gill mottling or bleeding, sunken eyes and blisters on the skin. Behaviourally, affected fish often remain near the surface, swim lethargically or in an uncoordinated manner and may exhibit respiratory disease.

KHV was first confirmed in Israel in 1998, but since then has spread world-wide and was first confirmed in the UK in 2000.

What the BVA has done

The BVA has issued

a policy brief on KHV which includes a number of recommendations based on the current status of KHV, the lack of suitable diagnostic testing and the lack of verified information as to the distribution and prevalence of the disease
a response to Defra’s KHV consultation