According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissnion, a virus that attacks large mouth bass has caused fish kills thorughout the Southeastern United States. The virus has been detected in 19 states and has apparently spread from Florida west to Texas, north to Wisconsin and east to Vermont.

The FWC and the University of Florida have joined in a research effort to better understand the affliction (LMBV) that has already attacked the game fish in more than two dozen locations.

The LMBV virus appears as of this date to be widely distributed throughout Florida. FWC research indicates that large mouth vass have tested possitive for either the precense of LMBV or for antibodies against it in all 16 fish populations tested since 199. The study ranges from Lake Seminole near Georgia border to the Everglades canals in south Florida.

Wes Porak, a research biologist for the DWC, recently clarified that while there were some unexplained fish kills in Florida during the 1980's and 1990's, there has never benn a documented largemouth bass kill in Florida.

The virus is one of more than 100 naturally occurring viruses that affect fish but not warm blooded animals. The origin of the virus is unknown but they do know that it is related to a virus found in frogs and other amphibians. Of great interest is the fact that the virus is nearly identical to one found in imported fish for the aquarium trade. We also know that many of the imports are released into streams and other bodiesof water when owners no longer desire to keep them.

According to Dr. Jack Gskin, a University of Florida virologist, in almost all cases, fish tested in Florida waters have been clinically healthy and lacking signs of viral disease. He said that they have obtained samples of 231 large mouth bass in nine Florida lakes. Gskin said: "Fourty-four percent of these bass tested positive, reflecting that they have been exposed to the virus and developed the antibody against it.

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