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Richmond Research Lab importing Koi for testing
Micro Technologies Inc. has received permission from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to import Koi an ornamental fish for a diagnostics experiment.
The Richmond-based diagnostic research laboratory expects to import 80 koi fish from Japan next month. The Main Street laboratory is planning to develop a non-lethal diagnostic test. The test will determine if koi have been infected with the Koi Herpes Virus.
Koi herpes virus is deadly and is known to have destroyed many populations. It has the potential to wipe out entire Koi populations if undetected. Koi collectors usually pay around $1 million to $10 million for the fish that is bought from Asia. Earlier the only method to detect Koi Herper Virus was by testing a kidney sample. This commonly used method kills the fish. The lab will first infect the koi with the virus to conduct its experiment. It will eventually incinerate the infected fish.
It is illegal to import koi, without a state permit. Presently a dealer is facing criminal charges and was fined for keeping koi in an aquarium in his Freeport restaurant for 15 years. The trial date for Cuong Ly has not been set. Despite this pending criminal matter, the wildlife department granted Ly a permit, provided the Koi fish are not on public display. At that same hearing, Micro Technologies was granted a temporary permit by the state to import koi until January.
Micro Technologies was founded in 1996 in Richmond has expanded into aquatic animal health and bioscience research. For several years it has conducted research and surveillance on the anemia virus that infects Atlantic salmon.
It now hopes the import of the Koi for the experiment will lead to development of an over-the-counter diagnostic test kit that could be safely used by koi owners, veterinarians or scientists to determine if the fish are infected. Atwell said that earlier this year in Japan, a buyer offered a koi fish owner $1 million for a single fish. Given this back ground it definitely is a lucrative venture for the company.
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