INFECTIOUS PANCREATIC NECROSIS OF SALMONID FISH - DISTRIBUTION AND LABORATORY METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS

One of the fastest growing branches of the national livestock breeding in Bulgaria is aquaculture production. The development of aquaculture production is directly related to the health of the cultivated fish and indirectly to the health of the wild fauna. Economically, breeding can be severely complicated by the appearance of infections especially those ones with viral etiology. The most serious problem for Bulgarian trout producers over the last decade is Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) which is a highly contagious viral disease of young salmonid fish. It is caused by a virus (IPNV) that belongs to the family Birnaviridae. The IPNV has been isolated from many geographic regions around the world with different environments and a variety of aquatic animals. In Bulgaria, the IPNV was confirmed 13 years ago. There are several cases with heavy mortality rates every year. Thus, the aim of this review was to extend knowledge of IPN, and to present methods of its control.