India witnesses its first encounter with the Tilapia Parvovirus, more commonly known as TiPV, in the state of Tamil Nadu. The virus has significantly impacted the country’s aquaculture, creating concern due to its high mortality rates within farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species.
Understanding the Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV)
TiPV is a viral pathogen that primarily affects tilapia. It belongs to the Parvoviridae family, renowned for its small, non-enveloped, single-stranded DNA viruses.
The Emergence and Impact of TiPV
The virus was first reported in China in 2019 and subsequently in Thailand in the following year, making India the third country to report an occurrence of TiPV. The virus has caused notable havoc on fish farms with mortality rates ranging between 30% to 50%. In laboratory settings, the virus has even led to 100% mortality, indicating its destructive impact.
The Consequences of a TiPV Outbreak
An outbreak of the parvovirus could potentially threaten the biodiversity and ecology of freshwater bodies. As tilapia is an invasive species, the fish could compete with native fish for food and space. Moreover, the outbreak could also affect food security and the nutrition of people who rely on tilapia as a protein source and income stream.
Important Facts About Tilapia Fish
Tilapia is a freshwater fish species widely consumed and cultured in India. It belongs to the Cichlidae family under the Perciformes order. The species originates from Africa and has become a significantly cultivated and harvested food source globally due to its adaptability.
Tilapia Farming in India
Various parts of India, specifically in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, carry out tilapia farming. The country has seen the introduction of different tilapia species, including Nile and Mozambique tilapia, leading to diverse farming practices. Nile tilapia, introduced in the 1970s, is preferred due to its larger size and scale of cultivation. On the other hand, Mozambique tilapia, known as “Jilabi” in Tamil, was introduced in the 1950s. This species is recognized for withstanding low-oxygen aquatic environments.
The Indian government authorized the importation of particular tilapia species, namely Oreochromis niloticus and red hybrids, in 1970. These specieswere favored for their quick growth and market demand, allowing for a certain level of control in aquaculture.
UPSC Civil Services Examination – Previous Year Questions
In the 2008 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question was posed about mosquito control in ponds and wells. It asked, “The release of which one of the following into ponds and wells helps in controlling mosquitoes? (a) Crab (b) Dogfish (c) Gambusia fish (d) Snail.” The answer is (c) – The Gambusia fish.
The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), commonly referred to as mosquitofish or by the generic name Gambusia, or common name gambezi, are known to survive in all kinds of water. They are widely used to curb mosquito threats as each Gambusia consumes over 250-300 mosquito larvae per day. The revelation that Gambusia consumes mosquito larvae was first made in Italy in 1931. Larvicidal fish such as gambusia and lebistes (guppies) have been recognized as effective in controlling mosquito breeding without disrupting the ecological balance.
