Tilapia parvovirus

• The occurrence of tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) affecting farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species, and causing a huge mortality rate has been reported for the first time in India at ponds in Walajah in Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu.
• The TiPV was first reported in China in 2019 and Thailand in 2021. India is the third country to report the occurrence of TiPV.

ABOUT TILAPIA PARVOVIRUS

• Tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) is a single-stranded DNA virus.
• This virus was localized in the gills, heart, brain, liver, pancreas, spleen, intestine, kidney, eyes, and muscles of tilapia.
• Currently no vaccine is available against TiPV.

ABOUT TILAPIA FISH

• Tilapia is a freshwater fish species.
• It is called Jilabi in Tamil.
• Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s.
• Nile tilapia introduced in the 1970s is a little bigger and is cultured on a large-scale.
• It is capable of surviving in low-oxygen levels in water and has turned invasive across the country.
• In India, tilapia farming is being carried out in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, and is sold in domestic markets as whole fish