Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Israeli scientists find carp can resist a deadly virus
For carp farmers around the world, the holiday favorite has a serious enemy: they are susceptible to several serious viral, parasitic, and bacterial diseases that can reduce their numbers.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is marked with fish and fish heads as a symbol of leadership, abundance, and being proactive rather than simply following. Carp, specifically the "mirror carp" type, is a popular choice for this traditional meal. However, common carp are vulnerable to the Koi herpesvirus (CyHV-3), a highly destructive disease that can wipe out entire populations in days.
Israeli and American researchers have discovered that certain carp relatives, such as goldfish, grass carp, silver carp, and black carp, are surprisingly resistant to the virus and unlikely to spread it to common carp. This finding offers hope for fish farmers and freshwater ecosystems on the Jewish New Year.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
