Virus shedding and food consumption in KHV challenged carp

This dataset details feeding behaviour and mucus virus titres of 20 carp (Cyprinus carpio) challenged with Koi Herpes Virus (KHV). Twenty carp (E1-E20) were bath challenged with KHV for four hours at 23 degrees Celsius. Five control carp (CA-CE) were mock challenged under the same conditions. KHV challenged and control fish were maintained in separate locations but under the same conditions. Fish were fed up to 40 food pellets daily and the number of uneaten pellets counted each day. Each fish was netted daily and samples of mucus collected by cutting out sections of net containing mucus and placing in centrifuge tubes. Viral titres in mucus were quantified using real time PCR. Fish were held until they either succumbed to the disease or were terminally anaesthetised when moribund. Survivors were terminally anaesthetised with benzocaine. The data were collected to provide insight into the likelihood of infected carp being caught (correlated with feeding rate) and contaminating angling equipment with virus (linked to virus titres in mucus). These data were produced as part of a larger study which sought to develop a quantitative risk assessment framework by which to assess the risk of KHV transmission occurring on angling nets. The study report contains further information on the experiment, as well as details of the other elements of the project.