Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: India has reported the presence of tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) for the first time in Tamil Nadu., affecting farm-bred tilapia fish.
- The virus caused mortality rates ranging from 30% to 50% in farms and 100% in laboratory settings.
Tilapia, considered a “poor man’s fish,” was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s. While Nile tilapia, introduced in the 1970s, is larger and widely cultivated, the occurrence of TiPV is a concern for tilapia farming in India. Research is ongoing to develop a vaccine to combat TiPV and mitigate losses for fish farmers.
