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The bacterium causing BKD, Renibacterium salmoninarum has been detected in brood fish at Aqua Gen Hemne. The diagnosis is based on autopsy, positive PCR and other immunological methods, but so far it has not been possible to grow it. Neither irregular behaviour, nor mortalities have been observed in this brood fish group.

The bacterium has been found because regular samples are collected as a part of the intensive quality control system.  This includes the sampling of brood fish several times before stripping and individual autopsy and sampling of all parent fish during stripping.  

According to the Norwegian fish disease directive, BKD is listed as a list III disease. This means that the following general measures should be implemented in connection to a verified list III diagnosis:

"When a list III disease has been diagnosed, all dead fish shall continuously be removed and destroyed. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority can decide on how the other stock shall be handled, including if they shall be slaughtered and destroyed and within what time limit."

The implications of this finding have two aspects, immediate production issues and longer term planning:

1) Immediate production
Aqua Gen has immediately ceased producing eggs from the affected brood fish group. Prior to this time though, a considerable volume of eggs has already been produced and incubated from it. In our production plan these egg batches were scheduled for delivery in weeks 46-50. Due to the uncertainties that are related to the health status of the parent populations these eggs that have already been produced will not be released to the market.

2) Longer term
The remaining brood fish groups located at Hemne will be subjected to thorough analysis before a final decision will be taken after consultation with the National Veterinary Institute and the Food Safety Authorities.

The Aqua Gen system is to have established security back-up capacity to compensate for the loss of eggs as a consequence of the loss of one production site. Back up groups located at each of the remaining production plants in addition to separate security groups have now been mobilized and compensatory production has been initiated. The removal of eggs produced at Hemne in the 08/09 season will affect some customers that have ordered eggs for delivery in week 46-50. However the total planed amount of eggs to be delivered from the Aqua Gen system will not be affected.

Facts about BKD