Risk of contamination of sturgeon species along the Lower Danube with AcIV-E virus from sturgeons raised in aquaculture systems

Abstract

It is considered that most infections caused by pathogen agents in fish species raised in the closed medium like fishing farms originate from the natural environment, thus there are few information on virus transmission from species raised in aquaculture programs to the wild ones. This issue is important taking into account that the wild sturgeon populations are critically endangerment, and regarding to the IUCN Red List, two of these are already declared extinct. Within Danube Basin, environmental and anthropic factors series (reproduction habitats lost, hydrotechnical works) have caused the sturgeon distribution area to be restricted mainly in the lower segment of the river. In addition, intensive fishing or the introduction of invasive species have produced negative effects and hence the decrease in the population effectiveness. As result, from six native sturgeon species within Danube Basin, in our days, only four are still found. This review shall include an analysis of the status of knowledge, regarding the possible influence which the transmission of some viruses within sNCLDV from aquaculture species to the wild ones, also it shall propose an assessment of the risk of infection within Danube ichthyofaunal.