Abstract Indigenous small cyprinid fish species play an important role in Great Lakes ecosystems and also comprise the backbone of a multimillion‐dollar baitfish industry. Due to their widespread use in sport fisheries of the Laurentian Great Lakes, there are increasing concerns that baitfish may introduce or disseminate fish pathogens. In this study, we evaluated whether baitfish purchased from 78 randomly selected retail bait dealers in Michigan harbored fish viruses. Between September 2015 and June 2016, 5,400 baitfish divided into 90 lots of 60 fish were purchased. Fish were tested for the presence of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), golden shiner reovirus (GSRV), fathead minnow nidovirus (FHMNV), fathead minnow picornavirus (FHMPV), and white sucker bunyavirus (WSBV). Using the epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line and molecular confirmation, we demonstrated the presence of viruses in 18 of the 90 fish lots (20.0%) analyzed. The most prevalent virus was FHMNV, being detected in 6 of 30 lots of Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas and 3 of 42 lots of Emerald Shiners Notropis atherinoides. We also confirmed GSRV in two fish species: the Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas (5 of 11 lots) and Fathead Minnow (3 of 30 lots). Two VHSV (genotype IVb) isolates were recovered from a single lot of Emerald Shiners. No SVCV, FHMPV, or WSBV was detected in any of the fish examined. Some of the infected fish exhibited clinical signs and histopathological alterations. This study demonstrates that live baitfish are a potential vector for the spread of viral pathogens and underscores the importance of fish health certifications for the Great Lakes baitfish industry.

中文翻译：

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密歇根港零售诱饵鱼 严重的鱼类病毒病原体

摘要 本地小型鲤科鱼类在五大湖生态系统中发挥着重要作用，也是价值数百万美元的诱饵鱼产业的支柱。由于它们在劳伦大湖的运动渔业中广泛使用，人们越来越担心诱饵鱼可能会引入或传播鱼类病原体。在这项研究中，我们评估了从密歇根州 78 家随机选择的零售诱饵经销商处购买的诱饵鱼是否含有鱼类病毒。2015 年 9 月至 2016 年 6 月期间，购买了 5,400 条诱饵鱼，分为 90 批，每批 60 条。对鱼类进行了病毒性出血性败血症病毒 (VHSV)、春季鲤科病毒血症病毒 (SVCV)、金丝雀呼肠孤病毒 (GSRV)、黑头鲦鱼巢病毒 (FHMNV)、黑头鲦小核糖核酸病毒 (FHMPV) 和白吸盘布尼亚病毒 ( WSBV）。使用上皮瘤 papulosum cyprini 细胞系和分子确认，我们证明了在所分析的 90 条鱼中的 18 条 (20.0%) 中存在病毒。最流行的病毒是 FHMNV，在 30 批 Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas 中的 6 批和 42 批 Emerald Shiners Notropis atherinoides 中的 3 批中检测到。我们还在两种鱼类中确认了 GSRV：Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas（11 个批次中的 5 个）和 Fathead Minnow（30 个批次中的 3 个）。从一批 Emerald Shiners 中回收了两个 VHSV（基因型 IVb）分离株。在所检查的任何鱼中均未检测到 SVCV、FHMPV 或 WSBV。一些受感染的鱼表现出临床症状和组织病理学改变。