KOI BREEDING IN ISRAEL :
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The Koi Virus (KV - widely known as KHV) was first recorded in Israel Koi and Carp farms in 1998.
It is believed the disease was imported to Israel in broodstock and equipment that came from a defunct Koi breeding
farm in the UK. Cases of KV have been documented before 1998 in other countries, and since then in Koi facilities
around the world. In general Israeli farms and concerned government departments have co-operated with fish health
authorities world wide in an effort to contain the spread of KV as well as to share any and all information regarding
the virus and possible methods of control or treatment. Paradoxically, it has been this openness and willingness
to share information (as opposed to farms in some other countries that have tried to conceal virus infections),
that has sometimes fueled rumors that the virus started in Israel, or that Israeli farms are responsible for
its propagation.
More research on KV has probably been carried out in Israel and more is probably known about KV in Israel than in any other
country in the world. Israeli researchers are close to completing the development of a KV vaccine and much of the scientific
documentation relating to this research and development is in print and will be published in early 2003.
In the absence of a vaccine there are only two known "safe" methods for breeders to supply the market with Koi.
The Koi are either grown in an entirely isolated, closed and controlled environment (something which is relatively impossible
if the fish are grown in outdoor mud ponds), or the Koi are "immunized" and made resistant to the virus.
Closed System Koi
Hazorea Aquatics has built a new, entirely isolated and enclosed system in which Koi can be grown in a controlled environment
from birth to the day they are shipped to the customer. The whole system is completely isolated from the rest of the fish
hatchery and the outdoor ponds. Strict measures of disinfection and sterilization are enforced regarding personnel,
instrumentation and tools in order to completely negate the possibility of transferring any kind of infection into the system.
Since KV is a temperature dependent disease, the temperature in the system is kept at a temperature at which any outbreak of KV
(however unlikely) would be detected immediately.
Immunized Koi
After extensive research and experimentation, the Israel Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Fisheries) has developed
a protocol for "active immunization" of Koi. Fish that have been "immunized" in this way do not demonstrate symptoms of KV
again, and have been proven to be infection free and non-carriers of the virus. Farms in Israel producing Koi in this fashion
adhere strictly to the protocol and their production is monitored by Israeli Ministry of Agriculture laboratories.
As far as we know, Israel is the only country in which these two methods have been successfully and completely implemented.
Koi breeders (and their customers) around the world have been profoundly affected by KV. No farm, anywhere in the world,
can be completely sure that it will not be the next to be infected. Koi breeders in Israel believe that information regarding
dangerous diseases like KV that can influence world markets should not be kept secret. We believe that steps should be taken
at taken at each level of supply and distribution to prevent the proliferation of such diseases - and that customers should
be kept informed regarding the disease and the efforts being made to secure their peace of mind.
To date, and until a vaccine or cure is available on the market, we recommend that all customers isolate and
quarantine all newly received Koi (from any source, anywhere in the world) for a period of at least 2 weeks at a
constant temperature of 20 C. (68F.). Koi that have been thus quarantined can be considered KV free.
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