Review of Largemouth Bass Virus

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) causes a newly recognized disease of wild largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The disease usually occurs during the summer and typically affects adult fish, which lose equilibrium and are found floating at the water surface. Largemouth bass virus was first isolated during 1991 in Florida and has now been found in several bodies of water in the eastern United States. Fish kills have occurred in some infected populations of largemouth bass, but in other locations this virus is found in largemouth bass and other fish species with no overt signs of disease. Although there have not been documented changes in the total number of fish after die-offs caused by LMBV, additional research is needed to determine whether LMBV has reduced the number of trophy-sized largemouth bass in infected populations.